BIO

Hundreds of women have left the sex industry in Louisville, Kentucky through the work of Scarlet Hope, a non-profit organization founded in 2008 by Rachelle Starr. Each week, Scarlet Hope's women enters Louisville strip clubs to serve a home-cooked meal to dancers and spend time with them. Its mission is to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ with women in the adult entertainment industry — not to persuade them to leave it. However, this often happens when Scarlet Hope shares the gospel in one of the most taboo places for Christians to be.

SCARLET HOPE: LOVING STRIPPERS WHERE THEY ARE

In most Louisville strip clubs, certain regulars receive a special welcome when they arrive.

"The church ladies are here!" a stripper will often shout when — typically escorted by a DJ or bouncer — Scarlet Hope volunteers enter 18 Louisville strip clubs every Thursday night in pairs of two, carrying a home-cooked meal.

They deliver more than dinner, though.

Nearly a decade ago, Rachelle Starr and her husband moved to Indiana — just north of Louisville, Kentucky where she accepted a marketing job. Each day that Starr drove to and from work, the neon lights and XXX billboard of a sex shop on the side of the interstate demanded her attention.

In this season of life, the young Christian just so happened to be in search for purpose.

"Why was I put here on the earth?" Starr said. "And why did Jesus call me?"

Over the next year, Starr searched for ministries to join. As a pastor's kid who grew up seeing her father regularly bring addicts to church, the concept of ministering to broken people was embedded in her. Around this time, she had also started to read the book "The Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne, who shared stories of evangelizing in uncomfortable contexts.

This all culminated one May morning in 2007. On her way to work, Starr's burden for women in the sex industry that had been building every time she passed that sex shop peaked.

"I knew at that moment that God was telling me, 'Those women need someone to go in there and tell them about Jesus. That person is you,'" Starr said.

Over a year of prayer followed about what exactly this should look like. Much of this prayer happened as Starr stood with a group in a strip club parking lot or across the street.

Then in August of 2008, Starr and three friends each paid $10 to enter a local strip club. Her husband Josh parked across the street at a Wendy's to pray until they returned.

Inside the club, Rachelle quickly started a conversation with the bartender, who asked them why they were there.

"We're here because Jesus sent us here to do something kind and loving to the women in this club," Starr said. "Can I bring a meal in?"

The bartender's face became puzzled.

"No," she chuckled.

This stumped Starr. Over the next hour, she chatted with her friends and prayed for miracle because she had no idea how to orchestrate a meal. But out of nowhere, Starr felt the urge to introduce herself and her mission to a random man — one out of the dozens who filled the club.

"My name is Rachelle," she said. "I'm here because God has sent me here to do something kind and loving for the women in this club. Can I bring a home cooked meal in?"

The random man's jaw dropped. It was the club's owner.

"What's the catch?" he said.

Starr promised no catch existed. And at some point in the hour-and-45-minute conversation that ensued, the owner offered to let them serve a meal at his club every week. This birthed Scarlet Hope, the vehicle through which Starr would execute her mission.

Naturally, the bartender who starred in their first visit to the strip club was not the last person to ask them why they were present. After all, conservatively-dressed women who attend strip clubs to serve food and build relationships are oddities.

"The number one question that dancers who have never met us ask is, 'Why do you guys come in here?!' usually with a slight look of horror on their faces," Starr said. "What they know of God and all that they know of the sex industry just don't go together. Why would we, 'church ladies,' as they call us, go into such a dark and dirty place?"

A stripper, who Starr referred to as Sarah, asked her this question one night as Starr served her a plate of spaghetti.

"I go into the clubs because I love Jesus and he loves me," Starr said. "I'm in your club tonight because I believe that Jesus wants me to tell others — people who may not know — that he loves them more than they could ever imagine!"

As they sat at the bar in conversation, Sarah opened up about her past of drug addiction, incarceration and sexual abuse. Starr invited her to grab coffee some time when she was off work, and they exchanged numbers. Their conversation ended minutes later when a customer came in, and Starr left not knowing if she would ever see Sarah again.

The next day, Starr received a call from Sarah.

"I can't explain it," Sarah said, "but I saw Jesus in you last night, so this morning I called my manager and I quit. I don't know what's going to happen, but I know I want to know more about Jesus. Can we meet up for that coffee date you mentioned?"

Hundreds of women like Sarah have become Christians and quit their jobs because Scarlet Hope shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. This is a conflict of interest for strip club owners, but most allow it because Scarlet Hope makes no effort to convince anyone to quit.

"Our goal is not to get the women to leave," Starr said. "Our goal is to minister to the hearts and lives of women and share the gospel with them. When Jesus changes their hearts, that's when the women are coming out of the industry."

In spite of this, five owners have kicked Scarlet Hope out of their strip clubs to protect their business.

Of course, four of them ultimately asked the organization to come back, one telling a Scarlet Hope employee that his dancers missed them. Another who banned Scarlet Hope raved about it in the process.

"I have never kicked out someone who I wanted here more," an owner told Starr two years ago as he ordered her out of his club. "I know that you're doing God's work, but at the end of the day, I have to put food in my kid's mouth. When these women are coming to know God and they're leaving, I can't do that."

Months later, though, he offered to let Starr return to his club quarterly, which brings the count of strip clubs that Scarlet Hope serves to 19.

When Starr initially told people that she felt called by God to minister to women in the sex industry, many looked at her like she had lost her mind. One churchgoer asked why she needed to visit strip clubs when the sign to their church sat right outside — if dancers wanted to come, they knew where to find it.

Starr disagrees with this approach.

"We knew that in order for these women to hear the gospel, we had to go to them," she said. "The church sometimes has a tendency to give off a message that first people must 'clean up their acts' and then they're ready to come to the Lord. But of course, this is actually the opposite of the message of the gospel. The gospel meets us right where we are, in the midst of our sin and calls us to our loving Savior."

Lecrae and Andy Mineo are setting out on the Anomaly Tour again next month and we're calling out a few cities:

Charlotte, North Carolina

Greenville, South Carolina

Columbus, Ohio

Norfolk, Virgina

Portland, Maine

Show us why your city is an Anomaly – capture the uniqueness of your city in an original photo and use #MyCityAnomaly + #YourCity to enter to win a chance to take Lecrae and Andy Mineo out to dinner in your city (contestant dinner will be covered by Reach Records).

Show us what makes your city an anomaly!

*Only participants in the cities above are eligible to be grand-prize winners. Participants from cities along the Anomaly Tour are eligible for second and third-prize place prizes. Participants outside the Anomaly Tour stop schedule are eligible to win the third place prize.

*Photo submission must be original photos taken by the individual submitting the photo.

]]>Thu, 19 Mar 2015 10:07:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-58610Pre-order KB's Tomorrow We Live Today!http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Pre-order-KBs-Tomorrow-We-Live-Today
KB's second studio album, Tomorrow We Live, is now available for pre-order! Featuring Lecrae, Mattie of For Today, Bubba Watson, and more, order today on iTunes or Amazon and recieve an instant MP3 download of KB's latest singles Sideways ft. Lecrae and Crowns & Thorns (Oceans)! All orders of KB's new merchandise will receive 25% off their purchase until April 21st! The album drops 4.21.15.

BIO

Perhaps the most influential jazz musician ever, Louis Armstrong was born to a mother who often turned to prostitution and was son to a father who abandoned him soon after he was born. Johnny Cash, the “Man in Black,” was born into a family of sharecroppers and by the age of 12 was spending his days hauling heavy loads of cotton. If one inspects the formative years of artists and musicians often a common thread he would find is that early on, music appeared as the last thing on the list as an ultimate destination.

Kevin Burgess, now better known by his stage name KB, is a rapper. His latest EP 100 debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Christian Album Chart, #4 on Billboard’s Rap Chart and respectfully at #22 on Billboard’s coveted Top 200 Album Chart. He’s won a Dove Award (Nominated twice), been a Recording Academy featured artist on Grammy.com and has received critical acclaim from his peers and media such as Billboard Magazine and The Blaze. He’s toured nationally with Tenth Avenue North and is scheduled to join Trip Lee for the upcoming “Rise Tour.” But like so many musicians that came before him, KB, the rapper, almost never happened... READ MORE

Tracklisting

Tomorrow We Live drops 4.21.15.

]]>Mon, 09 Mar 2015 15:34:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-58529KB's Tomorrow We Live Ride Alonghttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/KBs-Tomorrow-We-Live-Ride-Along
Be among the first to hear KB's new album, "Tomorrow We Live."

KB is selecting one fan from Team Unashamed, our online street team, in Houston to ride along with him and be the first to hear his new album! Afterward, you are invited to meet him on-site to hear the new music as well!

]]>Mon, 02 Mar 2015 10:34:00 -0600http://www.reachrecords.com-58501Job Opportunity X Reach Recordshttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Job-Opportunity-X-Reach-Records
Reach Records is looking for a full time Director of Publishing to assist in growing the opportunities around our current catalog and signed writers.

If you are an ideal candidate for this role you should have a strong mix of personal skills and administrative ability. You will be developing relationships with all types of talent in the entertainment industry from artists, to publishers, to music supervisors. At the same time you will be making financial decisions on different opportunities and negotiating contracts, so the skills to work with numbers and percentages will be essential.

You will be the primary relationship with our publishing partners and also developing your own relationships with music supervisors looking for opportunities to place our songs in TV, film, advertisements.

Reach has a number of signed writers that you will be working with to create new content for placements.

Essential Functions:

Identify and communicate music licensing opportunities.

Initiate and bring to close publishing and licensing deals.

Communicate progress towards mutually established revenue and quantifiable strategic goals that demonstrate growth in music publishing and licensing business segment.

Identify opportunities for sublicensing or co-publishing, ability to reach out to potential partners and get deals closed.

Proactively lead internal projects, cooperating with the CEO and COO to develop and execute publishing programs.

Work with business stakeholders (CEO, customer service, marketing, digital delivery, operations) to ensure projects and tasks meet business requirements and comply with business timelines of completion.

This individual contributor position will work cross functionally between existing Reach Records departments and among senior management in order to establish and meet annual publishing goals and objectives, specifically targets for revenue growth and success stories of artist monetization.

Work Environment:

Position is located in Atlanta, GA

Must be available to travel up to 25% of work month to domestic music industry hubs: LA, NY, and Nashville, TN.

Hours are generally 9-5 Monday-Friday.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Four or more years experience in music licensing, publishing and/or sync, and a strong understanding of the publishing landscape.

Knowledge and working experience as an individual contributor conscribing cross-departmental resources in pursuit of company objectives.

Knowledge and working experience in artist development, A&R and artist/songwriter communication.

Tomorrow We Livedrops 4.21.15.

Bio

One of the fastest growing denim lines in the world is named after the Bible verse John 3:16. 3sixteen, a men's clothing brand founded in 2003 and co-owned by Andrew Chen and Johan Lam, specializes in jeans. The 3sixteen headquarters, along with Chen's home, lie in New York City. Its denim is cut and sown in San Francisco, where Lam lives a several-hour drive from Los Angeles.

3sixteen, which dons the motto "the last shall be first," is sold in nearly 100 stores across the globe. Chen and Lam also co-own two of their own shops in NYC and LA with denim retailer Self Edge. In addition to denim, 3sixteen produces clothing from hats to boots and items in between, all of which are intentionally selected to complement its jeans. Its quality has attracted coverage from Instagram, Visual Supply Co and Hypebeast.

3sixteen: Unashamed no matter the cost

For Andrew Chen and Johan Lam, it was friendship at first sight of their shirts.

In 2003, they both served as groomsmen when Chen's best friend from college married Lam's sister. During preparation for the wedding, Chen and Lam took notice of what each other was wearing — graphic streetwear T-shirts so rare that likely no more than five shops in the nation stocked them.

They bonded over their shared interest in fashion, so when Chen started a graphic T-shirt company months later called 3sixteen, he called Lam.

"Our intention for the brand was to provide excellent work and a positive representation of faith in arts," Chen said. "We felt like there were not many good examples of that at the time. If you grew up in the church, everybody's had their share of corny Christian T-shirts, and if you don't have them, you've definitely seen them."

Chen had graduated from the University of Chicago in 2000, and he proceeded to work in New York as an information technology consultant — a job for which he lacked passion. In the beginning, both men worked at 3sixteen part-time. Lam balanced promoting the brand with studies that he had just begun at the University of Southern California.

Neither of them knew anything about garment production, but over the next several years, they soaked in as much knowledge as they could from experts who were willing to help, like Kiya Babzani of Self Edge. They soaked in enough knowledge that Lam decided to decline multiple post-graduation job offers in 2006 to help run 3sixteen full-time. Chen quit his IT job a year later to do the same.

This leap of faith required Lam to live on a $10-a-day food budget coming out of college.

"I always was of the mindset that if you're going to be broke to invest in your future, do it when you're young," he said.

His sacrifice paid off. By 2008, 3sixteen had launched a full collection that included everything from ties to eyewear.

However, after two and a half years, they found that consumers were purchasing one item significantly more than others — jeans. This, as well as jeans' year-round wearability (compared to the new collection they had been designing every six months), motivated them to consider change. In order to put all of their time, money and resources into fulfilling the potential of their top product, Chen and Lam scrapped everything else in their catalog.

This sacrifice paid off, too.

Each detail of 3sixteen jeans down to the buttons is the result of a calculated decision based entirely on quality. This is half of the reason why 3sixteen's jeans range from $220-270. The other half is because Chen and Lam's Christian faith dictates their business values.

"There's no way to buy a jean at retail at $40 and have it be ethically produced," Chen, 35, said.

"The numbers don't add up from a business standpoint that you can make a jean for $30 and people are living a decent life making it," Babzani said. "It's not possible."

Babzani said sweat shops are "extremely common" in the clothing industry. 3sixteen's jeans cost more than most because they use a denim factory in Japan that actually pays living wages and is a safe working environment.

"For us, it's obviously an important thing to know who is manufacturing our product, know where even the components of our product are coming from, make sure that it's ethical and be transparent about those things," Lam said. "I think that's part of the reason people are drawn to our product."3sixteen's jeans are not fixed at costs over $200 to paint a picture of prestige. In fact, their margins are also so low that they have a no-sale policy. The price is simply based off of how much the jeans cost to make.

As a result of Chen and Johan's dedication to excellence, 3sixteen has been recognized for its denim over the years.

"What's best about our jeans to me is the fact that they look better the more that you wear them," Chen said. "All of our jeans are raw, unwashed and unprocessed. Most jeans on the market that you'd see are soft, and they've been stonewashed or distressed — maybe there's some decorative holes that have been put into them."

"We believe in making jeans that are completely unprocessed so that they last longer and, any wear on the jeans, you did it yourself. It's two-fold: You get a jean that lasts longer because it hasn't been pre-damaged, and you get a jean that looks a lot better. There are very few products out on the market that look better the more that you use them."

While they express their Christian faith through 3sixteen, Chen admitted that nothing about their products is inherently evangelical. However, they still have been able to evangelize through their brand name, as well as their platform.

"Our intention was never to make a Christian product," Lam, 29, said. "It was more to be open and honest about what we believed in and, at the same time, to make a really good product. ... And it was always important for us that it existed in a secular context, that it was good enough in and of itself that it could be sold at any type of store — not just a Christian store."

"Along the way, I think the biggest impact that I've been able to have is on young people who are growing up, who want to do something interesting and creative with their lives, but also have a heart for ministry, but they don't necessarily feel called to go to seminary to become a pastor or a minister. I think there's something to be said about earning the right to be heard — doing something that is of really high quality that attracts the attention of people and allows you to have a voice with them."

3sixteen began to add other products to its catalog again following about a year and a half of denim-only sales. After over a decade of existence, Chen and Lam still are frequently asked about the meaning of their brand name. They may have not always possessed a major platform, but the 3sixteen logo has been creating opportunities for them to share their faith from Day 1.

"We want what we stand for and who we believe in to come out very clearly when the opportunity presents itself," Chen said, "and it presents itself more often than you would think."

Not every opportunity is necessarily positive. Years ago at a trade show, a buyer approached 3sixteen's booth to inquire about the brand. After learning that a Bible verse inspired its name, she declined to carry the line because they were Christian.

Of course, 3sixteen's business partner Babzani, who is not a Christian, made the same claim. He had no idea that "3sixteen" referenced a famous Bible verse.

"If you emailed me and said, 'I have a Christian clothing line called 3sixteen, which is a reference to... so forth,'" Babzani said, "I would've deleted your email because I was in that state of mind that I don't want to carry a Christian clothing line."

But by the time that Babzani, born into Islam, learned the origin of 3sixteen, he had built a friendship with Lam that made the faith-based name irrelevant to him and, eventually, interested him in Christianity.

"Over the last 11 years, I've learned a lot about the Christian faith," he said. "Andrew's given me books, and I even, believe it or not, went to church with Johan and his mother once or twice, which if you told me I went to church with someone 10 years ago, I'd say, 'Why would I go?'"

Babzani has since partnered with Chen and Lam to launch stores in New York City and Los Angeles. 3sixteen has grown larger than the co-owners had ever imagined.

Chen and Lam were not sure if the faith-explicit name of 3sixteen would hold the brand back. If it did, though, they would not care.

KB "Tomorrow We Live" Official Album Cover

4.21.15

Bio

My wife, Priscilla, and I are part of what I would call, "the overlooked": people you may never see or know that make up the "action" of the bride of Christ. Called by God to serve and love the tattoo industry/culture, and the body of Christ (church bodies), we are seeing a rapid acceptance in the community that our tattoo shop works in and the acceptance of fellow believers that support us from all types of denominations!

I LOVE to love my wife. I love to take her on adventures to different places all across the nation, and it's a joy to have been blessed with such a great woman of God. She runs the tattoo shop, and she will be the best mother one day. I look forward to many adventures with her as we get old.I have such a desire and passion for the tattoo culture around the world. I love tattooing, meeting new people, and creating life-long friendships. I am a neo-traditional tattoo artist, studying both realism and illustrative works in tattoo culture.

Interview

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

I grew up in church, but couldn't grasp a relationship with Christ at my young age. If I was a Christian, why did I want to do everything I wasn't supposed to? I was supposed to be a new creation in Christ, but always fell short. I had no knowledge of how to live and fight spiritual battles, let alone understand God's abounding grace; church seemed very fake and rule-based. I was deceived to think Christians were hypocrites and decided I didn't want any part of it. During my early 20's, I destroyed my life and other lives by ruining my first marriage with alcohol abuse and living selfishly. I found my identity in money and possessions. By the time I was 27, I was done running. I never stopped believing in Christ, but realized I also was not dying to the flesh and living for Him. I became sold out to His Word and Will at age 28, which spawned a reckless way of loving people that most would deem unloveable.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

I try to go with His flow as much as possible. I wake up with some form of worship or study, and I do my appointments that my wife schedules for me each week. I believe I am there to speak into people's lives when needed or to listen and be a friend. If led by the Spirit, I will pray over people, or sometimes they just need to know you're ok with where they are right now and not judge them. (Eph. 2:4-5) If I can't accept a non-believer as they are, how will they be able to believe Christ is accessible to them in their state?Being a shop owner is part of my work as well. I currently have 2 apprentices and 2 other full-time artists in the shop, so teaching is part of my everyday schedule. Whether that's letting an apprentice tattoo my own leg, teaching how to price tattoos, or talking selling strategy, I'm always here to help. I want to leave a legacy - not just with my art and my own work, but through the artists that I help raise up and teach.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to be a tattoo artist?

My specific moment is more of a time period, maybe 5 years ago, when I decided to become a full-time artist. My family was very much against the idea, through no fault of their own - parents tend to want the best for their kids (security, good jobs, etc.). Two years into living for Christ, I became restless. I was working construction full-time and at a shop part-time. I saw it as an open door to radically change a subculture supernaturally. One day, I tattooed my knuckles and quit my day job. Since then, I have been tattooing full-time.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

The biggest risk for me has been the fact that some people may not like me. I am a recovering people-pleaser. Anytime you stand up for Christ or are led to pray over someone, whether they are saved or not saved, you risk looking foolish. This is a growing process and being covered in tattoos makes this even harder! Many circles associate the tattoo culture as demonic, and it can be. Music, for example, when inspired by the Holy Spirit is life breathed, reviving us and building one another in the Love of God. Likewise, it can be perverted to breed the opposite. This is no different in tattoo culture. I believe all my tattoos are God-inspired regardless of contrary opinions(Matt 15:11). My best friend Josh says "dead people have no reputations to uphold"... If I'm truly dead to self and alive in Christ, I shouldn't be too scared to take risks for Him.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

Living 116 for me is knowing who I am in Christ and releasing His glory and love into people constantly. Because of Christ's sacrifice, I am called to live like Christ. His love doesn't stop flowing out of me because of what a person looks like, is dealing with, or if they are saved or not. I was given a revelation recently on my self worth. "Your self worth will dictate how high your ceiling of potential is." I believe that was God-inspired! Let's start looking at ourselves how Christ sees us, instead of our own experiences and circumstances. I am not my past, I am not my struggles, I am truly wonderfully made, and God thinks that about us all.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

Every step for my wife and I is success. It doesn't always look like it from the world's standards or point of view (money/fame), but to us it's just living and loving from one place to the next. Different seasons come and go and look different. The only failure I struggle with is when I want to quit, live a normal life and have security. Before long I end up at the top of my bio with Jesus again!

Have you had any mentors along the way?

Chris Taylor, the first tattoo artist who was a Christian that inspired me and was motivation for me to believe in myself as a career tattoo artist. Junior Purvis was the first to hire me and gracefully taught me through some bad tattoos I did. Spiritual mentors...too many to count. Tony Costa and my best friend Joshua Rickard have grown me spiritually from the position of brother to pastor/teacher. Mattie Montgomery from "for today" found me through social media and told me God had directed us together and I was to tattoo him. This was very critical to the path of the tattoo shop my wife and I were opening at the time and an answer to prayer. Mattie always guides me with God's word and is a great encouragement.

Do you have any favorite books?

These books changed my life and still break me: the Bible, When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson, Divine Nobodies by Jim Palmer, Experiencing Father's Embrace by Jack Frost, and Twilight - just kidding. I'm sure there have been more, but these have been key to everyday 116 Life.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

Don't be afraid to love people. Some may look at a person and say that they are beyond saving or don't deserve second chances (or third or fourth chances). But it may be your acceptance and kindness that changes their life - when no one else would give them the time of day. Our own righteousness is like filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6), but He has made us righteous through Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:18)

For those who have a passion for marketing, operations, or audio production, we've got internships available. Please review the description and requirements below for more information on the positions.

Description:

3 month internships available for Spring 2015 and Summer 2015

All internships are unpaid

Spring 2015 applicants may be part time (10-15 hours) or full time (30-40 hours)

Summer 2015 applicants must be full time (30-40 hours)

Each business (operations/marketing) intern will be exposed to many aspects of the label including marketing, operations, bookkeeping, etc. Audio production interns will mainly be assigned to that department.

Requirements:

Must be a full time student

Must be able to receive course credit for internship

Must be based in Atlanta or able to relocate for the duration of the internship (we do not provide any compensation for relocation)

If you do not meet these requirements, please do not apply.

How to Apply:

Send your resume and one page cover letter (including why you want the position) to reachrecordsinterns@gmail.com

Please note if you are applying for audio production

For Spring 2015, the application deadline is January 16th

For Summer 2015, the application deadline is February 1st

Please note, due to the volume of requests we receive, not all candidates will receive an interview. If you do not receive an interview request by January 23rd (Spring Applicants) or February 6th (Summer Applicants) we have chosen to proceed with other applicants.

]]>Fri, 09 Jan 2015 12:19:00 -0600http://www.reachrecords.com-56951Messengers Giveaway http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Messengers-Giveaway-
Don't miss the release of Lecrae's new video for "Messengers" ft. For King and Country!

To celebrate the release of the new video Lecrae is giving away three Messengers Prize packs including:

Three books: 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell, 'The Reason For God' by Timothy Keller, and 'Money, Possesions and Eternity' by Randy Alcorn

A copy of Lecrae's latest album, 'Anomaly'

A copy of For King and Country's latest album, 'Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.'

Bio

Benjamin is a native of Dallas, TX, he, his wife of 8 plus years, and 4 year old daughter moved to Atlanta in the summer of 2011 for the second time. They currently live in English Avenue. He completed his Bachelor's degree at Liberty University and Masters at Central Michigan University. He is the Founding Principal of Peace Preparatory Academy, a community school and resource center opening in the fall of 2015 in English Avenue, one of Atlanta's most under-resourced communities. The school's mission is to educate the whole child, support the whole family, and provide growth and change opportunities for the whole community in a high-quality Christ-centered learning environment.

Interview

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

My story really begins where I tried to end it. At 17, after years of battling some heavy depression and insomnia I tried unsuccessfully to take my own life. The next Sunday I walked into a local church where the pastor was a young guy with a young family and he put his arm around me to show me around the church and said, "Jesus loves you, and so do we." This was the first time I had ever really heard someone say those words to me. Mind you I grew up in church, but I carried the scars of "church" into that place. Yet through my time there, my interactions with the people, and the study of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life, I became convinced in the power of the cross and the purpose God had for my life and everything sort of clicked. Not long after I graduated high school I enrolled in Bible College hungry to learn more about God and also began working in youth ministry. Fast forward a bit, I married my wife and felt called to step out in urban missions. We committed the first year of our marriage to missions through a program called Mission Year which placed us in Atlanta, and in English Avenue. That year rocked our world and changed everything I thought about who Jesus was and how he wanted to use me in this world. After that year we went back to our home in Dallas and tried to just live as good people, socially aware, and on fire for Christ, but God wanted more. He wanted it all and called us back to Atlanta in 2010. Since that time I really have just been going through the process daily of laying everything on the table and asking God to reorder, reprioritize, and use me to bring glory and honor to His name.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Typical for me has a whole new meaning in this season. Since I am really functioning in two major capacities, trying to get everything ready to open a school and fundraise for that school to be operational and sustainable, every day brings a new challenge. I spend a heavy amount of time in prayer and meditation, whether in my office or driving/walking the streets of English Avenue. I also spend a good deal of time meeting with people and sharing the story of my life and of Peace Prep. Lastly, a good deal of time is spent reading, learning is something I am always eager to do so I am spending lots of time studying for the days ahead.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to be a part of something like Peace Prep?

From the time I initially committed 40 days to prayer, visioning, and dreaming when the vision of Peace was born, to the season we are in now, God has really shown me how he uniquely created and gifted me for this purpose. In the early days just dreaming about Peace and sharing it with close friends and my wife, I was honestly very insecure and doubted whether God would really want to use me in this way. Since that time, there have been so many people and interactions that have helped me to really see the full potential God has for me.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

The initial decision to move back to Atlanta was an extremely tough decision. My wife was pregnant, I had a very well-paying job and was working my way up the corporate ladder, yet I knew we weren't living the life God called us to those years before. We had to give it all up. When we first arrived we had housing that was only available for about 3 weeks, I was starting a new job, and all of our earthly possessions were in the garage of our pastor with the exception of our mattress and a few suitcases of clothing. Fast forward to last year around this time when I made the decision to stop teaching and work for Peace Prep full time. I've never been a fundraiser before and we had virtually no money in the bank for the school, yet we made a decision as a family to really let everything go in light of God's faithfulness to us to this point.

What does the unashamed life look like in your neighborhood, English Avenue?

The unashamed life in English Avenue is one of bold faith and reliance on the Holy Spirit. This neighborhood is statistically the worst in Atlanta, and quite possibly one of the worst in America. Number one in violent crime in Atlanta, known as the largest open-air heroin market in the southeastern United States, no schools, no grocery stores, no public parks or green spaces exist. We try to walk as often as we can to church or friends' homes, we try to meet real and present needs whether that be making a sandwich for a homeless friend or turning on the water hose so someone can wash their hair. We also try to do things just to be reflective of how we feel about our neighbors and the neighborhood like keeping the yard up and hanging out with kids. It's also very important for us to be connected to a community of other believers here in English Avenue who have chosen to live here for similar reasons. When so much darkness exists, it's not complicated to be a light, but it is costly.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

Both success and failure bring me to the same place, Christ as King and bringing glory and honor to His name. When I have felt successful the inclination is to try and take credit for being smart or talented, I have to wrestle against that and realize that God in His grace and mercy has invited us to see Him at work and it is truly a privilege and not a right. When I have failed, which has been many times, I have to remember the same thing and in addition remember that He wouldn't have called us if He did not intend to equip us.

Lecrae touring English Ave with Benjamin.

Photo: Billboard

Have you had any mentors along the way?

In those early days of really walking the walk, Jeff Francis was instrumental in pouring in to me and just affirming all the unique ways God made me. Books and sermons have always spoken to me and brought me along and matured me in a sense. Lately, there are a number of people in my life who are really helping me to see more clearly and have a more appropriate perspective, too many to name individually.

Do you have any favorite books?

I have a lot of "favorites", The Perfect Loss by Chip Dodd, Jesus is Better Than You Imagined by Jonathan Merritt, anything by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis to name a few.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

This one reminds me that our whole lives are on the table to be shared, and it is only through relationships that we get to this point.

1 Thessalonians 2:8 - So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

The greatest encouragement I can offer to unashamed believers is to rest in the undisputed truths of who God is and live the life He created you to live. There is a constant battle within to listen to the lies of the enemy, to doubt, to second guess, to compare ourselves to others. All we need is found in Scripture, and not individual verses for our pleasure, rather the totality of the work which gives us such a clear picture of who God is and how he operates. Those truths will sustain you and encourage you in any season, because God unlike us, never changes.

Make a 15 second video showing us how you're not scared to be different for a chance to win!

Grand Prize:

An all expense paid trip for two to Brooklyn, NY to see the Nets v. Heat game on Tues. Dec. 16th. You and a friend with watch the game and video premiere live with Lecrae and Andy Mineo from the Sony suite. The winner will also receive a Sony Action Cam to record the experience.

2nd Place:

$100 gift card to the Reach Records online store

3rd Place:

$50 gift card to the Reach Records online store

How to Enter:

1. Make a 15 second video showing how you're not scared to be different.

2. Upload the video to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter using #SayIWont and tag @Lecrae, @AndyMineo, and @ReachRecords.

BIO

My name is Nelson Chu a.k.a DJ Official. I was born in the Bronx, NY. Lived in Brooklyn for my early childhood, then moved to Amityville, Long Island in my later years. Now I currently reside in Philadelphia, PA. Husband to Teresa Chu. Father of 2 beautiful daughters Isabella and Sophia. I've been doing music professionally for 15 years now. Started DJ'ing and Producing for a group called The Cross Movement in 2001 and in 2007 started DJ'ing and Producing for Reach Records. I've been blessed to have 3 Dove Awards, and a Grammy Award. 2010 I released a compilation titled "Entermission" on Reach Records. I've been around the world doing what I always wanted to do my whole life and that is music. I love representing Christ in my character and in music and would hope all those that don't know the joy I feel by being a Christian, would get to know it.

INTERVIEW

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

For those that don't know, my name is Nelson a.k.a. DJ Official. As long as I can remember I have loved the genre of rap music and the culture of hip-hop. It was all around me. I grew in NY, where hip hop was born and it set the stage for who I am today. After High School I became good friends with Cipha Sounds, who was also a DJ/Producer who was already making some noise around NYC. I rolled with him for the next 2 years and learned a lot about the music business, the art of dj'ing and producing. I had my foot in the door in the NYC music scene, but behind the scenes I was making some bad decisions. I ended up getting in trouble with the law, which landed me in jail for a couple of days. Those two days forever change my life. To make a long story short I was brought up on some serious charges and was supposed to be looking at some serious time. But, the LORD showed grace that changed my life again. You see growing up I had this best friend Mike and his parents were both Christians. They would always talk to us about the gospel, took us to events, loved on us and corrected us when we needed correction. We weren't the worst of the worst, but we were your typical knuckleheads, combing the streets getting in trouble where we could. Every now and then I would sit with Mike's mom (Mrs. Edlow) and talk about the Bible. I was real hesitant at first and even stand offish, but as time went on I would ask questions and her responses totally rocked my world. But I wasn't willing to give up all that I had just yet and follow Christ. I mean, at some point I believed what she said about the Bible and who Jesus was, but laying down my life and following Him wasn't in my program. I wanted to be a world famous DJ /Producer. After high school I was just getting started with my career and it seemed to be a very clear reality. Fast forward to while I was in that jail cell and all I could remember were those talks with Mrs.Edlow about Jesus, sin, dying to oneself, laying it all to follow Christ and I just started crying. Now crying in a jail is a no-no, but it was so heavy on me. I remember repenting of my sins and saying "Lord no matter what happens in the next few days, I want to follow you and live for you". I felt this burden come off of me like I had never felt before. I was a changed man and by GOD's grace I only served 2 days in jail. I had to pay for my sin in other ways via probation, community service and restitution, but I never saw any more jail time. Thank you LORD!

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to produce music?

After that pivotal time in my life I started going to a church, serving there and eventually the church decided to do a rap ministry. A the time I didn't know much about any Christians doing hip hop or CHH for that matter, but I knew that I wanted to use my talents for the Lord. One day someone gave me a CD by a group called The Cross Movement and my world changed again! The guys were just like me, they knew hip hop, they could rap and they sounded good. I emailed them to let them know that I wanted to meet them, to tell them how blessed I was by their music and one of their members got back to me. Soon after, I made a trip to Philadelphia to meet them. After a few months of getting to know them, they needed a DJ for a missionary trip to Jamaica and that is when it all started. After that trip I began traveling with them and even started doing beats for them. I was traveling so much from NY to Philly that my wife and I decided to take a leap of faith and move there. Well, it paid off and the Lord was with us every step of the way. I was CM's main DJ for the next 7 years and eventually ended up producing many of their songs. Around 2007 CM disbanded and I began DJ'ing for Trip and Tedashii. Soon after, Reach Records hired me to DJ for their first "Unashamed Tour". After the tour finished I was DJ'ing non-stop for Lecrae, Trip, Tedashii and Sho Baraka; which is when I became the official DJ (no pun intended) for their tours. After about seven years of doing that, Lecrae's rise in popularity presented a need for a permanent DJ and I filled those shoes. So that catches you up on where the LORD brought me from and how I became DJ Official.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Well, that has changed in the past year due to an illness that I have been battling called Light Chains Lambda Disease (a rare form of the cancer called multiple Myeloma). Before my diagnosis, I was on the road a lot and when I was home I would make beats, work on show ideas and prepared show sets for upcoming tours and concerts. In November 2013, I had Bone Marrow Transplant. While the bone marrow transplant was successful in battling the Myeloma in the bone marrow; the disease has spread into my lungs and my day to day life has changed dramatically. I am not able to travel a lot and I have to take a lot of medication to balance everything that is going on in my body. But I still make beats almost everyday and am currently working on my 2nd compilation project and some other cool stuff that has recently been given to me.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

When I became a Christian I wasn't very liked by the people who called me friend or family. They thought I was loony. They thought I was being irrational and going too far with this thing they called religion. They couldn't see that GOD has truly changed me from the inside out. It took awhile for those people to turn around and really see that, not only was I changed but, I was truly unashamed of being a believer in Jesus Christ. Plus, being in the (mainstream) music industry just when my career was about to take off and giving it all away to follow Christ was a great risk. But well worth it and I'd do it all again.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

As of right now, I am battling a sickness in my body and one thing I like to stress to people is that while I'm sick, I will continue to lean on the Lord, serve the Lord, worship the Lord, trust the Lord throughout this sickness. It's very easy during this time to turn your back and not trust the Lord. But I would like to let people know that I am to be believer in a GOD who loves me more than I ever could, One who is all-wise and One who is all-knowing. That's unashamed.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

Yeah, I've had plenty. The people who led me to Christ...The Edlows. Ambassador of Cross Movement and Pastor Vincent Ferrante. Plus, there have been many more people that have really poured into my life and helped make me the person I am today.

How have you worked through illness, from the original cancer to the recent news about your lungs?

I take it day by day. There are certain days I really feel tired and sick and really just want to rest and not do too much. But I try to take it easy whatever I do and try to make the best of a good situation. If I'm feeling good that day I will try my hardest to get done what I need to get done. It's been a challenge but I'm learning the process throughout it all. GOD is really helping me grow.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

That's hard. My list is veryyyyyyy long. I've been dealing with this sickness for a while and there have been plenty of Scriptures that have been sustaining, encouraging and helpful. But at the moment I would say there are two that are very challenging, but very essential to the believer during a hard trial.

Philipphians 4:4-7: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

1 These 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

Yes. Remember the GOD we serve is good. We must remember that he loves us more than any human being can love us, more than we love ourselves and will do what's best for us. Sometimes things just don't seem right or look impossible but we must remember that GOD has infinite wisdom and is all knowing and that he knows every situation from beginning to end. We just have to learn to lean on him and as Psalm 18:2 says "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior". We must learn to make the Lord our rock, our fortress, our savior and only then will things that seem off begin to shine a new light.

How can we, as the body of believers, pray for you and your family in this season?

1. A clear mind. It's hard sometimes to have a clear mind in the midst of sickness. Because the sickness and feeling you get with it can take over. 2. Healing. We still serve a GOD who can heal to this day. I'm asking healing for my lungs. 3. Strength for my family. It's so easy to forget the people behind the scenes who are with you every step of the way. My wife has been unbelievable. A truly GOD send and I ask for people to pray for her strength during this. 4. Purpose. I want this all to be for a reason. I want GOD to get his glory from this. I want my life, my story to make a difference in other people's lives. I want it to help strengthen people's relationship with Christ and be more unashamed of the gospel than ever before.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

An album can teach you a lot. In many ways, it's the ultimate platform to spread a heartfelt message, relay invaluable lessons, and celebrate life in a palatable, potent form. That's precisely what Trip Lee does on his fifth full-length album and companion book, Rise [Reach Records]. The acclaimed rapper, author, pastor, and Brag Ministry founder delivers a clarion call to listeners everywhere with the record and literary work that's encapsulated in its very title.

"Rise has a lot of different meanings," he explains. "It's a call-to-action to rise from the dead and actually live. We're born spiritually dead, and I'm calling for everyone to become spiritually alive. Secondly, don't wait until later to live the way you were created. God created you to honor Him, find joy, and serve others. Don't sleep on that. Lastly, rise above the low expectations people have."

In order to convey that three-pronged message, Trip took a different approach to recording this time around. Instead of collaborating with multiple producers, he worked solely with longtime producer Gawvi for the entire album at his Atlanta studio. They both endlessly encouraged each other to craft a cohesive body of work that captured a modern energy within a timeless structure, utilizing real instrumentation, strings, keyboards, and original soul-inspired vocal samples...READ MORE

(Physical Cover)

(Digital Cover)

Meet Hector Orama of Forgiven Boutique.

INTERVIEW

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

It started when I was in High school. I was selling bootleg CDs out of my locker. One of my first real jobs was working at a clothing/shoe store and I made my money off of commissions. I was able to connect with customers and sell them what they wanted. In this clothing store, I was highly influenced by music, fashion, and drugs. I began to sell drugs and would pray for God to protect me. One day, I had a dream where I was robbed and it actually happened in real life by the same person in the dream. This is how I knew Jesus Christ was real. I still loved the money I was making, but realized I was just trying to fill a hole in my heart. Years went by and I was going nowhere. Until one day, after repeated lip service to God, I quit smoking and selling cold turkey. I decided on my birthday to give my life to Christ for real and I haven't looked back since. This year will be five years I've been saved.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

A typical day of work was getting up every morning to work for an elementary school, serving as a Porter where I fix and serve for students. After that I am a "chauffeur" picking up and dropping off my cousins to go to music or soccer practice, the dentist, and then eventually home. Between the breaks, downtime, and hitting the pillow, I'm making calls, answering texts, maintaining the Forgiven Brand by delivering, selling and building customer relationships. God has recently changed the situation for me. Through a leap of faith he is now rewarding me with a new endeavor. I am now able to work for my brand full time. Use promo code: 116Life for free shipping.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to create Forgiven Boutique?

I had a dream where God showed me selling t-shirts at a table with a buddy. I have always been into fashion, but never knew how to create it. I didn't know a name for the company until I heard the Sanctus Real song "Forgiven" on the car radio. I knew than that was the name that God placed in my heart for the business.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

My hardest decision was to remove myself from the difficult situations I was in with my friends and stop selling drugs. To do this, I started fasting and reading my Bible. To live unashamed, simply put, I had to keep it "real" with customers. Some of them were high; some were slanging and / or were just plain sneaker junkies enslaved to inanimate objects. I also risked my life meeting up with people I never met before who could try robbing me or even stiff me with fake money at all hours of the night. But knowing they needed to hear and know about Jesus drove me to keep pushing. I had to show love to them without making them feel like they were being judged. Slipping a "God Bless You" or getting them to shout me out on IG and FB, with the hope that even if I never saw them again, at least they would find hope through my postings.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

The unashamed life is about telling the world that Jesus is real. Making sure the message of forgiveness is spread by speaking a language they understand. Whether it is by dance, books, sports, or fashion it's using your gift to glorify God.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

Success and failure work hand in hand. I know that what I do, I do for Him. "I believe I am free from it all. Even if I fall, I fell in the right direction" - Lecrae

Have you had any mentors along the way?

My Apostle Miguel and Myra Dominguez are my spiritual mentors. They have taught me how to live the Word of God. My Apostle always says, "anyone can preach but not everyone can teach." My business mentors are Ramadon from Elite Clothing and P from Windy City Sole.com. They're my bros that motivate me because they have turned their businesses from nothing to something.

Do you have any favorite books?

I don't do a lot a reading. But my favorite book in the Bible is Proverbs.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

Deuteronomy 6:5 is how I feel about God and Deuteronomy 28 is how God feels about me and my walk.

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

Best advise I give is Forgive and be Forgiven.

Special thanks to the entire Forgiven team (my brothers Angel Chapparo, Paul & Danny Soto), Hector Dominguez, Victor Zavala, Will & Lucy Vale, Jeremy & Ever. Most of all thank you to my Wife Ashly and my Mom. Thank you all for standing my corner, encouraging me, loving me, and putting up with me. I love you all and God bless you.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

1 Corinthians 15:58

]]>Thu, 16 Oct 2014 11:12:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-55350Pre-Order Rise Today! http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Pre-Order-Rise-Today-
Trip Lee's fifth studio album, Rise, is now available for pre-order! Featuring production from Gawvi, with appearances from Lecrae, Andy Mineo, This'l and more. Order today on iTunes, Amazon or Merchline and recieve an instant MP3 download of Trip Lee's latest songs Shweet and Sweet Victory! The album drops 10.27.14.

Bio

An album can teach you a lot. In many ways, it's the ultimate platform to spread a heartfelt message, relay invaluable lessons, and celebrate life in a palatable, potent form. That's precisely what Trip Lee does on his fifth full-length album, “Rise.” In order to convey his message, Trip took a different approach to recording this time around. Instead of collaborating with multiple producers, he worked solely with longtime producer Gawvi for the entire album at his Atlanta studio.

Sonically, Rise’s first single "Shweet" displays the immense talent of both Gawvi and Trip Lee. With its simmering production, the track nods to that classic down south Houston bounce with New York-style storytelling. Trip's verses remain as vivid as they are vital. Meanwhile, "Sweet Victory" builds from a minimal verse into a sweeping hook that's instantly invigorating as Trip's infectious flow takes hold. "Manolo" sees him once again team up with Reach Records’ own main man and close friend Lecrae. Together, the two of them flip another hip-hop paradigm cleverly between tightly woven rhyme fireworks.

Over the past decade, Trip has released four full-length albums via Reach, culminating with 2012's The Good Life, which debuted at #17 on the Billboard Top 200. It spawned a book of the same name and garnered two 2013 Dove Award nominations, Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year. The album sold over 100,000 copies, contributing to his cumulative sales of over 255,000 albums. However, Rise signals the start of his brightest chapter yet.

"I'd love for people to walk away from this album feeling called to live their lives right now,”

Tracklisting

Rise Drops 10.27.14

With the release of his fifth studio album, "Rise," Trip Lee is hosting an exclusive listening experience for media and has decided to open the event to a select number of fans. Taking place in New York and Atlanta, the event offers the chance to be amongst the first to hear the music and share a night with Trip Lee as he discusses the project, his inspirations and more. Tickets are available for purchase now. There are only 50 tickets available to purchase for each event.

To download, click the arrow in the upper right hand corner.

BIO

Matt is a Major League baseball player currently in the Chicago White Sox organization. Drafted in 2004 by the Seattle Mariners, Matt just finished his 10th professional season and has spent over 2 1/2 years in the Big Leagues with Seattle and the Detroit Tigers in 2013. Matt grew up and spent most of his life in the Pacific Northwest but now calls Atlanta, Georgia home. His father, Manu and brother, Marques both played in NFL. Matt and his wife, Abi, have a 19 month old son, Josiah, and love spending every second chasing him around the house!

INTERVIEW

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

I was drafted in 2004 out of Woodinville High School by the Seattle Mariners. I was born and raised fifteen minutes north of Seattle so it was surreal to have the opportunity to play for my hometown team. Spending four years traveling and working my way up through the minor league system was challenging, but I was blessed to make my major league debut in September of 2008. From that moment on, its been an up and down roller coaster ride. I was sent back and forth from Triple-A to the Major League team so many times and had two elbow surgeries in 2009 and 2010. After my 7th season (2011) in the Mariners organization, I was released and went on to sign with the New York Mets Triple-A team in 2012. I went two full years without playing in the Major Leagues but never lost hope. Holding on to my faith and dreams I knew God could do immeasurably more then I could ask or imagine. I received an invitation to the Detroit Tigers Spring Training this past season and while everyone had me penciled in on the Triple-A roster, God had other plans. I won a spot on Detroit's Major League roster and had the best year of my career. Now I'm currently playing for the Chicago White Sox.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

Most of our games are scheduled night games with 7PM start times. Everybody usually arrives to the ball park 5-6 hours prior to game time. I usually wake up get some coffee and breakfast and relax around the house until about noon. If I'm on the road I'll walk around town and/or go shopping. When we get to the park around 1-2PM we lift weights, study game film, get treatment, and have extra hitting/defensive work on the field and cages before batting practice begins. There is a lot of down time before games so a lot of the extra time is spent playing video games or cards.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to play Major League Baseball?

I fell in love with baseball at an early age. I loved pitching, playing shortstop and hitting home runs! One of my favorite memories as a kid was during Little League All-Stars. I had made the 11-12 year old Woodinville West All-Star team and we went on to win our districts and state tournaments to move onto the West Regionals in San Bernadino, CA. We made it all the way to the championship game and found ourselves one out away from winning a berth to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. Every kid who plays Little League dreams of making it to that place! In that championship game, we played in front of 10,000 people and even more as it was aired on ESPN 2. We eventually lost that game in extra innings but that was one of the first moments where I knew that I wanted to play Major League baseball when I grew up.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

In this profession, you have to surround yourself with like-minded men who share the same beliefs and values. Early on in my career I didn't do that. I was so concerned about my appearance and 'living it up' as all the rest of my teammates were. I went to Chapel on Sundays but the rest of the week I was headed to the bars and getting drunk after games because thats what everyone did. Although I knew it wasn't right, I was afraid to be DIFFERENT! I was on a dangerous path and I needed to make a choice. Romans 12:2 talks about 'not conforming to the ways of the world but being transformed by the renewing of our minds' and I had to get off the fence. I didn't want to just say what I believed but wanted to act it out. I surrounded myself with men of faith. I set guardrails that protected not just myself but my marriage. I went home and called it a night when things would get out of hand or when it got too late. Although they weren't the popular choices and would be met with comments from teammates, I wasn't held captive to what they thought of me. I was free and unafraid to follow my convictions.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

The unashamed life to me is a life fueled by faith and not by fear. To be unashamed is to be FREE and to not be afraid of others and what they might think but by living a life of integrity and conviction to be the best man, husband, father and teammate on and off the field. Living unashamed is not just talking the talk but walking the walk.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

Baseball is a game of failure where if you are succeeding 30% of the time, you are amongst the elite. Most, however, succeed at such a lower percentage. In my career I have had All-Star seasons and seasons where I failed 80% of the time. In any other profession with that type of performance, you'd probably be kicked to the curb and finding yourself a new job. The best way to work thru the ups and downs of baseball is to stay positive and in the process/journey. I had an IDENTITY shift after the 2011 season. My identity as a ballplayer and man did not change due to my performance. No matter if I was performing like an All-star or getting released, I'm a child of God, loved and accepted by HIM. The freedom from knowing that my identity rested in Christ and NOT my performance, the coaches or fans allowed me to go out and compete to the best of my ability. Results were not the goal anymore. The process of being the best I could be and honoring God was now what drove me through both success or failure.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

I've been blessed to know two men that have strongly influenced and strengthened my walk with Christ and they are my chaplains from Tacoma Rainiers and Detroit Tigers. Tacoma Rainiers chaplain Brian Peterson and Detroit Tigers chaplain Jeff Totten.

Do you have any favorite books?

The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." And Ephesians 3:20 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

You can't do it alone. Surround yourself with other unashamed believers that will encourage you and strengthen you. Iron sharpens iron. Lastly, always remember that no matter what happens in your life, your identity is found in Christ. Not just his child but a masterpiece, wonderfully and fearfully made! There is nothing that can separate his love from you. You are always loved and accepted by Christ!

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Its been a crazy journey from selling CDs out of the trunks of cars to stadiums filled with the unashamed and lives impacted worldwide. With the release of Anomaly this week, the response and support has been overwhelming.

Many of you have walked with us since the beginning and many just heard about the music, but the mission of Reach has always been to change the way people see the world. With the release of Anomaly, we’re excited to see the potential within culture and the music industry for something different. What if we spark a change in the way music is done? What if we alter the standard of what’s played?

We have until Sunday at midnight to take Anomaly to #1 on the Billboard Top 200 charts. If we do, this will show the industry that people support music that promotes life and hope. If we can do this, as a huge thank you to fans everywhere, we'll release a brand new song from Lecrae for free on Wednesday at 1:16 PM. If you haven't purchased Anomaly, don't miss it. If you have, consider gifting to a friend and tell somebody! 3 Days Left!

From the beginning to the end, lets aim to change the way people see the world.

WHERE TO BUY OR GIFT:

GRAB A PHYSICAL COPY.

MANY OF THESE RETAILERS ARE RUNNING SPECIALS:

ALSO AVAILABLE AT YOUR

LOCAL INDEPENDENT RECORD STORE.

]]>Thu, 11 Sep 2014 16:00:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-54731Lecrae X Anomaly X In Stores Nowhttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Lecrae-X-Anomaly-X-In-Stores-Now
With six studio albums and two mixtapes under his belt, Lecrae releases his seventh studio album. The highly anticipated "Anomaly" features Andy Mineo, Crystal Nicole, Kari Jobe, and for King and Country and is available online and in stores now!

"People struggle with categories. Categories make us feel comfortable because it’s how we make sense of things in our minds," Grammy-award winner Lecrae Moore ponders. But sometimes, when you discover something really special, it defies category. Lecrae finishes his thought, "Sometimes, there's transcendence."

Remaining true to his beliefs, Lecrae is an artist that redefines mainstream popular culture. Thematically, one can find inspiration, faith and honesty in his music. But it’s more than that and yet it is quite transparent. If Oscar Wilde was correct when he said, "Most people are other people, their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation," it’s simple to understand the easy attraction to Lecrae. In a sea of indulgent music, he's swimming against the tide embracing all the things that make him the man he is, including his faith. And at the heart of it all, Lecrae is pleased to share the secret to his success. He explains, "I just have to have integrity and be true to who I am and what I believe in. Music doesn't need to be categorized. It just needs to be good." Now on the cusp of his seventh studio release, Lecrae is at the climactic crossroad of his career... READ MORE

Tracklisting

1. Outsiders

2. Welcome to America

3. Say I Won't ft. Andy Mineo

4. Nuthin

5. Fear

6. Anomaly

7. Timepiece

8. Dirty Water

9. Wish

10. Runners

11. All I Need Is You

12. Give In ft. Crystal Nicole

13. Good, Bad, Ugly

14. Broken ft. Kari Jobe

15. Messengers ft. for KING & COUNTRY

]]>Mon, 08 Sep 2014 20:31:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-54157Lecrae X Anomaly X First Playhttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Lecrae-X-Anomaly-X-First-Play
Lecrae's highly anticipated seventh studio album is now available for streaming on iTunes First Play. Hear it now before it drops on 9.9.14!

BIO

Justin is a sixth-year pro who sees action at RB and also as a return specialist. He has played in 78 career games with seven start and has spent time with Seattle, Indianapolis and Houston. Justin was born in Lakeland, FL and his father, Rodney, is a minister and coach. He currently resides in Jacksonville, FL with his wife Angela and son Judah. His wife was a former standout volleyball player at California and participated on the U.S. Women’s Volleyball team.

INTERVIEW

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

I grew up in the small town of Mulberry, Florida. I lived in a house with both my parents and two brothers. My dad is a preacher so we were a family rooted in faith. I got saved in middle school at a service my dad was preaching and ever since then my life has been changed. Also, I was actively involved in sports at an early age so I knew I wanted to be a professional football player. I was never the biggest, strongest, or fastest on any team I was on so I knew I would have to put in a ton of work and make a lot of sacrifices at a young age. My family and I moved to Texas my junior year in high school where I attended a college prep school. Upon graduating there, I was offered a full athletic scholarship to the University of California at Berkeley. After completing my four years at UC Berkeley, I was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2008. In 2012, my contract expired in Seattle so I was signed by the Houston Texans, with whom I played only one season. Now I’m standing here in year six of my NFL career playing for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Lord has truly blessed me with the opportunity to do what I love to do and I’m very grateful.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

I usually wake up and start my day around 6 am. From there, I drive to the stadium because weightlifting begins at 7:15. At 8 o’clock, meetings begin. At 11:00, the team goes out to the practice field for a brief walk-thru to go over everything we just studied in meetings. 12pm is lunchtime. At 1pm, practice begins and lasts for about 2 ½ hours. At 4pm, we have our last meeting of the day, which consist of watching the film of practice. At 5pm, I leave the stadium and return home.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to play in the NFL?

At age seven I realized that I wanted to play football in the NFL. I was inspired by the play of Hall of Fame Running-Back, Barry Sanders.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

The only risks I really had to endure to live unashamed are rejection and my comfort level. God is constantly pushing me to do more and reach deeper. Being a relatively shy person, the idea of me speaking in public and facing rejection is a tough battle for me but God has been faithful in keeping me in perfect peace through it all. He has helped me realize that the failure is not in the rejection but the act of not doing what He has called me to do. So even though I may face some rejection and I may be pulled out of my comfort zone on some of the things that I am called to do, but God has been molding me, which has caused me to grow in ways I never thought I would before.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

Living unashamed in my life is about surrendering to God’s divine authority. So I am constantly fighting to die to myself daily and get out of my comfort zone. While I’m in the locker rooms, the meeting rooms, and the practice fields I realize that my purpose is to do the will of God and glorify Him in all I do. So even when I’m tired and my body doesn’t feel good I make sure that I am representing the love of Christ. This means encouraging teammates on and off the field; being an ear to those with a heavy heart that may be battling injury or work related stress, and initiating team bible studies or discussions to encourage spiritual growth.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

I have worked through success and failure the same way by staying in close relationship with God. When I reached my goal of becoming a starting running back in the NFL, I stayed in constant prayer and read the Bible daily to receive constant direction from God so I could use this success for His glory. Also, when I was cut from a team, demoted in position, or injured I would remain steadfast in my Bible reading and prayer time, as well as, stay in constant connection with fellow believers for guidance.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

In this walk of faith, I’ve had many mentors along the way. My mentors on this journey range from coaches, team chaplains, and pastors all whom inspired me to grow and get out of my comfort zone.

Do you have any favorite books?

Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Romans 5:3-5, & Romans 8:28

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

Because of my job as a professional football player I have a huge platform to share the gospel and impact people in a positive way. I know that I may have a bigger platform than some but we all have a platform wherever we are. So I would encourage the Unashamed Believers to use their platform to make a difference, not just in your speech, but also in how you live your life. Additionally, in this walk of faith you will come up against various trials and obstacles, so it is key to stay connected with the local church and other unashamed believers so that you will remain sharp and accountable. Remember it is not wise to walk alone.

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

]]>Fri, 15 Aug 2014 11:53:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-53945Pre-order Anomaly Today! http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Pre-order-Anomaly-Today-
Lecrae's seventh studio album "Anomaly" is now available for pre-order! Featuring Andy Mineo, Kari Jobe, for King and Country and Crystal Nicole. Order today on iTunes or Merchline and recieve an instant MP3 download of Lecrae's latest songs Fear and Nuthin! Anomaly is also available on Google Play and Amazon. The album drops 9.9.14.

Click here to pre-order Anomaly in MP3, CD or Deluxe Digital complete with instrumentals and acapellas for all 14 tracks.

Click here to pre-order Anomaly gear, 25% off for a limited time only!

Bio

"People struggle with categories. Categories make us feel comfortable because it’s how we make sense of things in our minds," Grammy-award winner Lecrae Moore ponders. But sometimes, when you discover something really special, it defies category. Lecrae finishes his thought, "Sometimes, there's transcendence."

Remaining true to his beliefs, Lecrae is an artist that redefines mainstream popular culture. Thematically, one can find inspiration, faith and honesty in his music. But it’s more than that and yet it is quite transparent. If Oscar Wilde was correct when he said, "Most people are other people, their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation," it’s simple to understand the easy attraction to Lecrae. In a sea of indulgent music, he's swimming against the tide embracing all the things that make him the man he is, including his faith. And at the heart of it all, Lecrae is pleased to share the secret to his success. He explains, "I just have to have integrity and be true to who I am and what I believe in. Music doesn't need to be categorized. It just needs to be good." Now on the cusp of his seventh studio release, Lecrae is at the climactic crossroad of his career. Read more here.

Tracklisting

ANOMALY DROPS 9.9.14!

BIO

Jessie Kinjo is a scientist researching and experimenting in molecular biology and flow cytometry. The research involves stem cells with properties that have the potential to help to cure diseases and quicken the healing of injuries. He is also involved with a prison ministry where he assists in church services for prisoners, Bible Studies, and more. Jessie Kinjo currently resides in California.

For more information on Jessie's research, click here. For more information on the prison ministry, click here.

INTERVIEW

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

I grew up in a stereotypical Asian home. It was always a huge culture clash growing up in California. My parents wanted me to stick to my roots but I really wanted to embrace my new home here. They always encouraged hard work and patience in everything I did. I learned very early that if you wanted something you had to compete for it with everything you had and no one was going to give you any handouts in this life. Spiritually I was raised first by my great aunt who was a missionary and then later by my parents. My teenage years to my young adulthood were just filled with rebellion. School took a backseat and I just barely made it through. God redirected me when I was in the midst of getting high and drinking almost every day. I barely graduated college but through his favor still landed a job. Since then He has been renovating my mind, cleansing my soul, and basically turning me into the man I was supposed to be. When people see me today they don't believe I work in my industry because I am all tatted up and looking like a misfit. They see me as a tatted Jesus freak but when people hear what I have to say I hope they hear the words of a disciple of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

A typical work day usually starts off with me brainstorming at my desk for an hour just to make sure I have everything prepared and ready for my day's experiment. Then I throw my lab coat/biohazard suit on and get to it. Whether it is working in cell culture to model what is happening in the human body or doing molecular biology I try to do my best to answer the world's burning questions through science. My work day doesn't usually fit into the normal confines of a nine to five and could change from one week to the next. While it is exciting it always pushes my mental abilities to the fullest.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to work in science?

I was always kind of a science dork as a kid but it didn't become a real career choice until college. I was in between jobs so a friend of mine hooked me up with a job in his lab and I have been working in science ever since!

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

In my industry there are not many believers. My faith in God most of the time is not welcome or appreciated. Sometimes I even get ridiculed. My faith gives me the strength to bear it all. A lot of times I have to exclude myself from certain projects and experiments just because they don't line up with my morals and beliefs. While this creates a lot of friction and awkwardness between me and my coworkers I have to stick to my guns and do what I need to do. I try my best to remain confident that as long as I work with integrity God will continue to show me His favor.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

To me the unashamed life means being uncompromising, transparent, and genuine. I am uncompromising in my lifestyle in the sense that I won't allow the world to define who I am. I am transparent because I know that I am cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, therefore have nothing to hide. I am genuine because I am proud that I am an adopted son of the Kingdom of God.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

I know that every step of the way God has been with me. I can honestly say he has taken care of my every need. In my success and failure He shows me how to be humble. I remember a time when I was unemployed and having a real hard time making ends meet. I was in a situation when I was on my last $50 and just really in a hopeless state. I was so discouraged because none of the jobs I was interviewing for seemed like it would work out. I remember after one interview I just sat in my car afterwards stunned and hopeless because the people had just asked me the hardest questions in the world. I didn't even feel like driving home because I was embarrassed and convinced I had blown the interview. Just in the nick of time God blessed me with a job following those events.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

My ministry leader Arnold Carraway has been my mentor, brother, and friend since I have been going to my church Crossroads. He really takes discipleship to the umpteenth level so I am always appreciative that he has been investing the time to help me grow.

Do you have any favorite books?

I just finished reading Boundaries by Cloud and Townsend and I loved it. I think it will help anyone trying to balance their life. I also enjoyed Crazy Love by Francis Chan and Love Does by Bob Goff. Other books that have helped me are The Flinch by Julien Smith and a couple of Mark Batterson's books. I am not ashamed to admit my weakness in different areas of my life. We are constant works in progress so I go and read how a fellow believer has experienced victory in that area of life. Their testimonies help me build mine!

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

John 16:33 always brings a smile to my face. When I am down I get snapped back right to reality that Jesus already has overcome and that He desires nothing but peace in my life. Revelations 19:11-16 is a second favorite of mine. Jesus first came down humbly as a small child but this time he is arriving in all His glory!

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

I would say to be bold! When God gives you a dream or a vision for your life and community I say take hold of it and not let the naysayers get you down. We owe it to God and the people around us to shine brightly. When we bravely go out there it points to our Savior, Jesus Christ and makes His name famous.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Lecrae's highly anticipated seventh studio album is now available for pre-order at *Lifeway Christian Stores! Order today for $9.99 and receive a free Reach sampler featuring Lecrae's new single "Nuthin". The sampler also features songs from Andy Mineo, Tedashii, Trip Lee and KB!

Bio

In his previous role, Jason oversaw the design of conceptual products and services for Jordan Brand, as the Senior Global Design Director. Prior to rejoining Jordan Brand, he was the Global Director of Innovation for Nike Digital Sport where he was responsible for the creation and investigation of new technologies and services. While in Digital Sport, he was tasked with crafting a product strategy focused on expanding the impact and relevancy of the Nike+ platform, through the creation of products such as the Nike Fuel Band. Additionally, Mayden served as the co-Chair of Nike's Black Employee Network from 2011 -2013.

As a native of the south side of Chicago, Jason has a passion to serve his community through design workshops with Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, mentoring young minority males through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and participating on the Jordan Fundamentals grant selection panel. In addition to community service, he also sits on the board of his alma mater, College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI, where he received his BFA in Industrial Design.

Fueled by an insatiable desire to learn, Jason entered Stanford University's Graduate School of Business in 2010 as a Sloan Fellow where he received a Master's degree in Science with a concentration in General Management, and a certificate in Social Innovation. Mayden is also a frequent lecturer at Stanford University's prestigious Graduate School of Business. In May of 2013, he was presented with the distinguished honor of being asked to serve as an Advisory Board member to the "d.School" at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University.

In his own words Mayden states, "I have had a tremendously blessed career thus far but nothing can compare to the joy and responsibility of being a Father, Husband and a friend to my wife, Sonny, and my children, Khalil age 9 and Viviana age 6. They are the reason why I aspire to dream beyond the confines of what the world may deem possible for a little boy from the South Side of Chicago. They are the reason that I have decided to begin the next chapter of my career without fear."

Mayden is currently the VP of Design for MarkOne, d.Fellow at Stanford University's d.School and a regular contributor to Hypebeast Magazine and Hypebeast.com. www.myvessyl.com

Interview

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

My path is rather simple. I was born and raised on Chicago's Southside. I discovered that God had blessed me with multiple talents at a very early age. I also discovered that because of those gifts, I was often able to see beyond the confines of my world towards a greater place. A place where the Lord wanted to multiply me and bless me but because of my giftedness I formed an arrogance which ultimately resulted in a series of bad decisions and stumbles that lead me right back to Him. So as I look back on my life, I can't honestly say that I was on a "path" because the Lord brought me from the wilderness of the world. So I would rather say that I was on a "mission" to discover the ME that He know that I could be all along. And today, I can say with full confidence from the Lord that I am comfortable being the first ME and not the next anyone else.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

I wake up. I have quite time via ACTS (Acknowledge the presence and power of the Lord, Confess my sins to the Lord, Thanksgiving for the life that he has blessed me with, Supplication to the Lord)

We get on our knees and pray as a family and then I hit the gym to honor my temple and then I am off to the Design studio to create opportunities for others to shine. It brings me great joy to see other people win.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to do footwear design with Nike?

Yes. When I realized that the people who design the shoes must get them for free also! Haha. In all seriousness, I had an event that lasted 180 seconds the became the catalyst for my journey towards Nike. I spoke at length about the incident during my TEDxStanford (see below) talk. It was the first time that I shared that story with the world.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

In my humble opinion, there is no such thing as risk or hard decisions when you live a life for the Lord. There are only uninformed choices and a conformed mind when you try to please the world and follow the Lord. For me, cutting out behaviors were only as difficult as my ability to change my surroundings and thus impact my ability to make faith-based decisions. Simply put, change your surroundings, reduce your ability to be tempted and watch how easy it is to live unashamed!

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

Complete faith and trust in the Lord, no matter what the circumstance. Sharing the love of Christ with those who may feel judged by the world and being open and honest with yourself about where you need to strengthen your armor. The most overlooked aspect of living an unashamed life is the act of ignoring the areas of our life where we need to be forgiven. I ask forgiveness on a daily basis because I understand, that as a leader in corporate America my actions impact other peoples' lives. So I pray that the Lord helps me to lead with a loving heart and an encouraging presence. If I stumble, I know that I first need to acknowledge that I stumbled and then ask for Him to forgive me for the sins that I have committed both known and unknown.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

I celebrate the small wins and I learn from the big losses. I try to keep an "attitude of gratitude" at all times. I understand that our lives are but a vapor and I simply want to live a life that is true and honest. So without failure, success would not be precious. So I embrace my shortcomings, failures and setbacks because I know that they are all batting practice for when the Lord calls me up to the Big Leagues. I want to make sure that I hit a homerun and truly appreciate the feeling of godly success when He decides to bless me with the ultimate victory; which is eternity with Him.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

Yes. Several. But more importantly I had advocates. Mentors helped to guide and nuture me. Advocates took my name and brought it into conversations that were well above my access. Having both allowed me the structure and peer validation to succeed without having to compromise my beliefs.

Do you have any favorite books?

The Emperors Handbook, Outliers, The Odyssey, The Hero's Journey and of course The Bible to name a few.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

Colossians 3:1-5 have always spoken to me. Along with Psalms 23. I live a life without fear. I often encourage my family to Be Fearless, unless of course it's fear and reverence for the Lord.

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

Embrace the power of being you. The greatest trick that the enemy has played on this generation is the idea of "popularity". We all internally yearn to belong; it's a part of human nature. However, we should yearn to standout, to be set apart and recognized for that "IT" factor that we so often hear about. In my life the "IT" that people see is Christ that lives in me. I would encourage you all to be a guiding light rather than a spot light. We often allow our beliefs in the Lord to act as a shining light, which causes non-believers to feel judged and confronted by believers. However, if we live a life that others can learn from, that others can follow then maybe we can be a guiding light for those who are searching for the truth amongst the darkness. So simply put, allow people to follow you as you follow the Lord and watch what He can do!!!! You never know if the person your speaking with has never met a believer before. Every moment that you spend with someone else is a chance to share His love with your fellow man.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58

You’ve seen the Nothing I Can’t Do dance video, choreographed by Keone, Bam Martin, and Vinh Nguyen. Now we want to see what you can do! Pick your favorite song from Tedashii's new album and make a 6 second Vine showing off your best moves.

To enter:

Create an awesome dance video on Vine.

Use #BelowParadise.

Post the video on Vine and Twitter.

Submit before June 20th.

The winning Vine video will receive 3 months subscription to 116 Limited: The Official T-shirt Club!

Go!

]]>Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:07:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-53352Tedashii X Below Paradise X In Stores Nowhttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Tedashii-X-Below-Paradise-X-In-Stores-Now
After much anticipation, Tedashii's Below Paradise is now available in stores! The album features Lecrae, Trip Lee, Crowder, Andy Mineo, Kam Parker, Christon Gray and more. Get your copy of Tedashii's journal, Below Paradise, on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play or pick up a copy at Family Christian, LifeWay, Mardel, and select Walmarts (see below). You can also purchase Below Paradise merchandise at the Reach Records Storefront!

Purchase the deluxe version of Below Paradise on iTunes and get 3 bonus tracks, featuring artists KB, Dimitri McDowell, Derek Minor and more!

Tracklisting

1. Below Paradise

2. Perfect ft. Kam Parker

3. Dark Days, Darker Nights ft. Britt Nicole

4. Nothing I Can't Do ft. Trip Lee and Lecrae

5. Catch Me If You Can ft. Andy Mineo

6. Paradise ft. Tauren Wells of Royal Tailor

7. Fire Away ft. SPZRT

8. Be With You ft. Lester "L2" Shaw

9. Back To You (Interlude)

10. Angels and Demons ft. Crowder

11. My God

12. Love Never Leaves ft. Natalie Lauren

13. Complicated ft. Christon Gray

14. Chase ft. Tim Halperin

Album Bio

Reach Records artist Tedashii has been a busy man since we heard from him last. Following the 2011 release of Blacklight, which debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes hip-hop chart, he’s had a heavy touring schedule that included his own concert series, The Unashamed Tour and The Rock and Worship Roadshow with MercyMe and Jeremy Camp, where he had the distinction of being the only hip-hop act. Then there was that guest spot on Lecrae’s Grammy-winning album Gravity, and Tedashii’s own hit track “Dum Dum” was featured on the popular TV show So You Think You Can Dance. And did we mention he’s also the host of his own weekly radio show, Serium, heard on NGEN Radio? ...READ MORE.

To use the list: 1. Find your state (they are in alphabetical order) 2. Then find the city/suburb you recognize closest to you 3. After that, plug the store number into Google and it will bring up a link on the store site (i.e. search for “Walmart store #2070”) to get the location of the Walmart in Anchorage, AK.

BIO

As a senior in high school, actively involved in sports and on her way to becoming valedictorian of her class, Deborah Davis became debilitated with a sickness known as Lyme disease. Daily she fights to honor the Lord in her trials and circumstances, while her family does their best to pay the enormous medical bills. Deborah is currently 19 years old living with incredible faith, residing with her family in Florida. Read her story below and check out the link to help support the Davis family medical expenses in this time of need! Reach Records will match every dollar contributed up to $5000.

INTERVIEW

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

One summer when I was 13 my life drastically changed in more ways than one. Not only was it the summer that I really heard The Gospel for the first time and repented and believed in Christ for salvation, but it was also the summer that I went on a camping trip with my family and through the bite of an infected tick got Lyme disease. I had no idea what was happening at the time, but from then on, I started feeling sick with flulike symptoms, constant headaches (that evolved into migraines), joint pain, chronic fatigue, and gastrointestinal issues.

Throughout the years, my symptoms kept getting worse and my doctors continued to be perplexed as to why I felt the way I did. In high school, I played varsity soccer and cross country for my school, excelled greatly in my studies, and was actively involved in ministries at my church. At the beginning of my Senior year of high school, my health took a huge turn for the worst. I started becoming more and more debilitated by my symptoms, which included mysterious organ pains, cognitive decline similar to Alzheimer's, confusion, and numbness in my hands and feet (a current list of my symptoms covers almost two full pages). Even though I had a plethora of medical testing done, doctors still couldn't figure out what in the world was going on inside my body. I eventually had to quit cross-country, and I was unable to try out for soccer.

By the end of January, I was experiencing so much around-the-clock joint pain that I was limping around school, my muscles ached so much it would hurt just to have my family members hug me. My migraines became constant and I started becoming extremely sensitive to light and sound, and my fatigue was so overwhelming it was all I could do to stay awake enough to participate in daily activities. In February of 2013, I finally became bedridden and have been that way ever since. It was also February when we finally found this specialist who eventually diagnosed me with chronic, late-stage neurologic Lyme disease and needed aggressive IV antibiotic treatment. Unfortunately because of how controversial this disease is in the medical community, we've had more than our fair share of problems with doctors and insurance coverage.

Since I've been diagnosed, I have been hospitalized four times, once in the ICU, have had multiple ER trips, have seen well-over 80 doctors (that's when I decided to stop counting), and have been wheelchair bound for over a year. It's taken us this long, but we finally found a Lyme literate doctor willing to take me on as a patient and I'm just now (after losing all my teenage years to this disease) getting the treatment I need. Unfortunately, insurance has refused to cover all the costs for my treatment course, leaving us having to pay around $3K-5K out of pocket each month.

What does a typical day look like for you?

A typical day for me now is most definitely a far cry from what it used to be a year and a half ago. Because of the relentless pain I feel all throughout my body and the crippling amount of fatigue, some days it's just enough to wake up and survive. Other days it's to wake up, survive, and go to another doctor appointment. On good days I even get into some physical therapy. But that's just on the surface. Typical days for me are really a constant battle to trust in The Lord and His provision, and not become bitter. It is all too easy for me to let myself wallow in self pity and demand God to explain exactly why He is letting this happen to me. It's amazing how easy it is to let my guard down and lose sight of what is true (like the Father's precious promises, His attributes, His love and faithfulness to me) and give into my emotions.

How do you keep good perspective in the midst of difficult circumstances?

Keeping a good perspective when everything seems to be falling apart has been truly difficult. Only the Lord can really understand how hard it's been for me. There have been many times when I've strayed in my thoughts or doubted God and His plans for me. The one and only thing that keeps my perspective on track is the Lord and how He demonstrates His deep, deep love for me! He constantly pursues me in such a real way at times when my joy is in Him, as well as the times that I am prone to wander.

One practical means that I use the help keep a good perspective is reading through my grandmother's old hymnal. Most of those hymns have such a clear perspective and vision of The Lord. They were written by real believers who also went through difficult trials. It's such a great tool!

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

I think the most difficult decision has been to claim the grace The Lord daily gives me as my own and to believe that it is truly sufficient for me. It is also very difficult to keep my emotions about my circumstances from clouding how I view God. Something I learned a few months ago is that I can't let my view of God be shaped by how I see my circumstances. I have to put my trust in who He really says He is.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context and life?

For me, the unashamed life is daily taking up my cross and following Christ. It's daily casting all my burdens upon The Lord. It's daily believing that not only has Jesus provided me with salvation through His blood, but also promises to provide for ALL my needs. It's daily believing that He will keep every one of the promises He makes to me. It's acknowledging the fact that my life is not my own, it belongs to The Lord. He's the one who ultimately has the authority and power to do whatever he wants with my life, not me. And that's not a bad thing at all! I can rest fully in knowing that my life is held secure in my Savior's nail-pierced hands. Through it all, The Lord has graciously taught me that "whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever lays down his life for my sake will save it.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

Both by clinging to the promises The Lord has for me in the Scriptures. I fight to cling to my Rock in the dark hour when I have a doctor who doesn't believe in the legitimacy of my case, or we've been denied certain medication again. And in the times when doctors have been exceedingly helpful, and we've been blessed with another month of treatment I give thanks for such great blessings! One instance I have to fight tooth and nail for joy in The Lord, and the other I sing for joy in Him and praise him for His faithfulness to me.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

My mom is my "caregiver" since I'm not able to do many things for myself. But beyond caring for me physically, this woman has also cared for my spiritual needs. We've grown so much closer through this trial and I am so thankful for her constant encouragement.

Then there's my friend, Amanda. We used to play soccer together until she became very sick and debilitated from Lyme disease. We both were infected with it at different times and had no idea we had had it for years. She's a dear sweet sister, and we are able to encourage one another in ways even our closest friends and family can't because we are both enduring similar sufferings of this same illness. The Lord has greatly blessed me through her friendship.

I can also say that I've been mentored and encouraged in this season by my former youth pastor and present college ministries pastor.

Do you have any favorite books?

I have always loved reading. Unfortunately because of how the Lyme has affected my cognitive abilities, it is quite difficult for me to read. But I still love books and even though I struggle, I still love to read. Some of my favorites are A Steadfast Heart, by Elyse Fitzpatrick; the Love Comes Softly Series, by Janette Oke; The Attributes of God, by A.W. Pink, and basically anything written by John Piper, C.S.Lewis, and Spurgeon.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

Jesus tells us in Scripture that the Christian life isn't going to be easy. God has never promised that he would take away all of our problems and sufferings in this life, for perfection doesn't come until we enter Heaven. BUT He has promised that he will sustain us through all of our life storms (Psalm 55:22) and give us the grace we need to weather them out (2 Cor 9:8). While we don't have all the answers as to why God would allow this or that to happen to his children, we can rest assured knowing that The Lord's got it under control! He knows what He is doing. Who are we to question Him, our own Creator who gives us breathe and life? Even while situations seem dark, we can know that our lives are in the hand of a good and gracious God who is full of lovingkindness and faithfulness, who's mercies are new every morning!

You know, my only real regrets in all of this are the times that I wavered in trusting in the Lord to provide for me and my family. There were times when I felt so distant to God, as if he wasn't even there to hear my prayers. But even though I thought that way then, looking back I know that those were the times when he was closest! The Lord has almost miraculously proved to my stubborn self time and time again that He will sustain me and that He will provide for me and my family! If only I would've trusted Him sooner it would've saved so much heartache and I would've had more of a peace going through these situations.

So I guess my advice would be to trust in the Lord with all your heart! He knows what's best, and He has promised that he will work all situations out to our good if we love Him. If you're going through a trial, dear brother or sister, I pray that you would remember the kind of God we serve! Memorize His promises He reveals in Scripture and always be preaching the gospel to yourself. Rest in Him. He will be your closest and dearest friend through all of this! Also, community! Community! Community! Gather people around you to support you and pray with you and share your burdens. Seek out encouragement and help, if needed, through godly counselors.

Reach Records will match every dollar contributed up to $5000!

]]>Fri, 16 May 2014 09:32:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-53067Now They Know Video http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Now-They-Know-Video-
We shot a video for "Now They Know" during the Unashamed V Tour in Dallas TX, check it out!

Below Pardise drops 5.27.

“From Below” is a collection of thoughts, prayers and reflections from Tedashii over the past year of his life. Step in to these Tumblr journal entries to experience all he felt, learned and grew from as he sought to understand life and God, below paradise.

"It was the morning of a very cloudy and dreary Saturday - March 23, 2013. My son Chase passed away. On that day everything changed for me, for my family. Everything about me changed..."

Tedashii's fourth studio album "Below Paradise" is now available for pre-order! Featuring Lecrae, Trip Lee, Andy Mineo, Christon Gray, Tim Halperin, Crowder, and more. Order today on iTunes or Merchline and recieve an instant MP3 download of Tedashii's new song "Nothing I Can't Do" Ft. Lecrae & Trip Lee! All orders of Tedashii merchandise will receive 20% off their purchase until April 27th! The album drops 5.27.14.

Bio

Recorded in Atlanta and Dallas, these 14 tracks don’t just focus on his recent loss, they are inspired by all the events that have shaped Tedashii as an artist and a man. This includes his experiences in high school as a football-playing, poetry-reading, trombone-wielding member of the band and his conversion to Christianity during college. Meeting his father for the first time, feeling like an outsider, faith, family and fatherhood -- it’s all in there.

Below Paradise, which releases May 27, doesn’t just track Tedashii’s personal growth, though. It also shows his progress as an artist. From his noteworthy 2006 debut, Kingdom People and 2009’s Identity Crisis to this latest album, we’ve seen his style continue to become richer and more fully developed. His heavy bass vocals and dynamic, dramatic beats insist listeners sit up and take notice.

Tedashii’s goal has always been to create songs that are thoughtful and thought-provoking, so BelowParadise won’t be the soundtrack to your Spring Break weekend. Even the songs that are upbeat or up-tempo are aimed at getting you thinking. And he’s not alone on this quest. In true hip-hop fashion, Below Paradise is an inclusive mix full of exciting guest appearances. Everyone from Tedashii’s former roommates Trip Lee and Lecrae to CCM acts like Britt Nicole, Crowder and Tauren Wells of Royal Tailor lend their voices. Andy Mineo, Natalie Lauren, Christon Gray, Tim Halperin, Lester “L2” Shaw, SPZRKT and Kam Parker round out the impressive guest list.

Tracklisting

Below Paradise drops 5.27.14.

BIO

Adam Grason is a designer for Disney's creative services. Adam is also the owner of Zadok Fourty Four, a design studio focused on print, apparel, and illustration. Originally from Kansas City, he now resides in Florida with his wife Christina and son Harper.

INTERVIEW

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

Well my path has been a huge long journey. I grew up in a Christian home and remember seeing my mom worship and read the Bible every single morning. But even with that, it didn't take long for me to go my own way and start flirting with sin. We lived a relatively low income life in a really rough area of Orlando called Pine Hills. Gang violence ran rampant and life for a white dude was tough. My entire childhood was filled with art and drawing and I would use it as a way to escape. I eventually landed an opportunity to go to a better high school based on my art and it really helped shift my mentality about what my life could be like.

I later found the Lord in my junior year of high school and it has eternally changed my art forever. I never did go to college and it has allowed me to fully claim that my abilities are God given. No school can claim to have crafted me as an artist, only God can.

My career has been a journey. In short, I went from designing for churches to designing for some of the largest companies in the US. I've had the pleasure of doing work for Krispy Kreme, Chevrolet, ESPN, Disney and the one and only Reach Records.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

I wake up around 5 AM. Most mornings I crawl into my garage and throw some weight around...on lazy mornings I crawl to the espresso machine. I'll get in a lil devo with the Lord. It varies, I dont have a set way I spend time with Jesus. I make breakfast for myself and my wife and head off to Disney at 8 AM, where I am currently in a TA role. Once I'm working, I'm locked in. I check my email a lot! But I hit work hard and enjoy the process each project brings. I get off of work from Disney and come home to freelance...busy life for me.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to design/illustrate?

When I was working for churches, I reached a point where I hit a block and just couldnt keep going on in the way I was. It was in that same time that I lost my lil brother, my grandmother and an adopted baby (the birth mom decided to keep him). It was in that point, that I realized that I had to really establish a career as an artist.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

With no formal training, I made the jump into going fulltime as a freelance artist. It was a huge risk because I had no plan, no backup plan and no one knew who I was. But it was the Lord and it was because of that moment that I am where I am now. I could have easily shrunk back and lived a safe life. I could have kept going on with business as usual or I could break out and trust God. A huge unashamed moment.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

It's a life that moves by the winds of the Spirit. For me, my faith is something I have no worry about. People know I love Jesus and stand for Him, the real truth to my unashamed comes through more in my decisions. As an artist, there is a lot of risk and living unashamed means not shrinking back from making tough decisions or making those risks. It also looks like a humble person working in a field that births egos and pride. For my art, I honestly rarely do any fully "christian" art. I see my work as a representation of living unashamed because I have no fear in designing art that is inspired by my relationship with Jesus. I dont need to throw Christian symbols or terms into my art for my art to be filled with the Spirit. I firmly believe anything I create is from the overflow of my love for God, whether it's an illustration of trees or if it's a product label.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

It's a toughy. It would be great to say I have never let success get to my head, but I am proud to say it has never stayed there. Whether its success or failure, I understand that God is the grand architect. With success, I firmly understand that if I let it get to me and puff me up, that in a moment I can be painfully humbled. If it's failure, I embrace that character building moment and move on.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

The only mentors I have ever really had were in my youth with my Youth Pastor George Sotolongo and Senior Pastor Carlos Sarmiento. I haven't had any official design mentors, but if I had to say designers that have helped shape me, I could easily say Rogie King has been huge for me.

Do you have any favorite books?

Anything AW Towzer, Glory of Christ by John Owen and

The Prophecy of Isaiah by J. Alec Motyer as of right now.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

The entire book of Hosea feels like a commentary of my life...and no I didn't have a girl that cheated on me. The Lord has used that book to expose darkness in my own heart and areas where I have committed unfaithfulness to the Lord. I can easily relate to Gomer and Hosea being God. No matter how many times I may turn, He is willing to take me back and even buy me back by the blood of Jesus.

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

Never let anyone dictate what being unashamed means for your life. You know the areas where your heart tries to hide and only you can break those by being unashamed. Work hard and live without any regrets. Give your all in your craft no matter what it is...you don't need to be an artist to have influence in your craft. We have a finite amount of time on this earth to make an impact and once we are gone, we are gone. I have chosen to be the best at what I do for the single purpose that unless I am successful, my impact is greatly decreased. Take advantage of the opportunities to share your faith by your actions. I have found that my impact on sharing my faith is best when I live my life for God versus simply saying a dialogue and calling it a day. Lastly always remain teachable...you are never too good to be a student and humility needs to be embraced...trust me God will humble you. Live unashamed in the freedom Jesus bought for us.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Congratulations to OnBeat Music for winning the grand prize of the Heroes for Sale Remix Competition!

In September of 2013, Andy Mineo, Reach Records and Rapzilla teamed up to bring a remix competition to you like we never have before. The challenge and opportunity was to remix any song on one of our s'=cene's highest selling albums, Andy's debut album Heroes For Sale. Reach Records gave the instrumentals and stems for the tracks and the result was over 1,000 submissions... Read more and hear the winners at Rapzilla.com.

A Word From Tedashii on Below Paradise:

"In March of 2013 I had the worst day of my life. The loss of my son changed me forever. I experienced grief and sorrow to the depth of my soul. The veil was lifted, the smoke cleared and all I had was pain. Instantly phrases like, "It's all good" or "It'll be ok" were cliche and, at best, empty promises. The comfort of life with no pain was gone and I saw the world in an entirely new way. I felt forsaken, alone, and in a place of darkness that has been kept masked by a focus on only the good side of this life. The reality of being a Christian and suffering so harsh a thing was hard for me to grasp.

This album is my "journal" shared publicly with all of you during this difficult journey as I worked to understand all I felt, experienced, and believed. I am human, I am hurt, I am His. By His grace I am what I am. I pray this will be an album all can feel, even if you can't relate, and be moved to true emotions about the reality of life in a harsh world with a loving God, Below Paradise."

- Tedashii

Below Paradise drops 5.27.14.

Experience Andy Mineo's new EP live in a rare NYC show! Get your tickets today for "Destination: Never Land" with special guest MARZ and Christon Gray! All attendees will receive a limited edition copy of Never Land.

Bio

Keone and Mariel Madrid are choreographers with a heart for the Lord. You can see their work anywhere from Urban Dance Camps, to Hyundai commercials, to So You Think You Can Dance. Keone and Mari currently reside in San Diego.

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

KM: Man, well I definitely never thought I'd be where I am today. I was a total "jock" in high school and played all sorts of sports. Basketball was my main thing, so when I started dancing it was a bit of a surprise to all who knew me. I think you can count on one hand how many male hip hop dancers there were at my school. Dance was just a side fun thing for me but after years of putting in work to get better, God just continually gave me opportunity after opportunity. What we do in the dance business did not exist when I first started, so it wasn't something I thought of aspiring to. We're the blessed generation that got to unintentionally invent this sort of Youtube choreography phenom thing.

MM: There are a lot of moments, often when we're sitting in a plane about to take off to some far away place for work, and I am just floored by what we get to do. I never in my life guessed that I would be dancing as a profession, I always just did it for fun and out of the simple love for it. Then to have it interwoven with the man of my dreams and Jesus coming into my life makes it even more unbelievable; like it's too good. How it happened was a friend of mine posted a video of my choreography from a class I taught. At that time I had no idea what youtube was, but it got a lot of hits and led to more teaching opportunities. More opportunity led to more open doors, led to meeting my husband, led to me meeting the Lord, and us building this life together in our shared art, careers, and marriage. I went to art school for creative writing and ended up having this beautiful path emerge out of left field, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

Well we sort of have different kinds of days. Travel ones and days at home: Days at home are like this: wake up and spend time in prayer and in the Word. Do any emails, music search, social media, online type of stuff that we should be taking care of. Time with our doggie. Jump into the gym to do any workouts and/or jump into the studio to choreograph for a couple hours. Depending on the day we would usually have rehearsal at night stemming from anywhere to 3-7 sometimes more hours. Schedule is pretty sporadic depending on the season, traveling, making videos, projects, jobs, etc.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to pursue dance as a vocation?

KM: Up until 2010 dance wasn't the plan for my wife (then girlfriend) and I to do this as a career. We both were actually about to quit and go back to school to do the "typical" path towards another "safe" job. Mari would go into nursing and myself into sports medicine. We actually were creating a video that was supposed to be our "last hoorah" kind of thing. It was a piece inspired by Matthew 5:14-16. After we posted the video there was a clear message that we couldn't stop. God stepped in and said NOPE... you're doing this... Glorify me and I will provide for you. Since 2010 our careers have definitely taken off and it's been one blessed journey so far.

MM: Yes to everything Keone said. We had a time where we were preparing for a different life and God definitely stepped in and showed us not only what direction He wanted us to do, but why.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamedly?

KM: Plenty: turning down jobs, not dancing to certain music, "going out" with colleagues, hanging around certain crowds, etc. Being a Christian itself brings it's challenges, but being a dancer and choreographer in the entertainment industry AND being Christian definitely presents it's every day battles.

MM: To add to this, as a woman, the challenges are crazy. The industry that we're in is very male dominated and it can get hard to not feel swallowed up in it and stay confident in yourself. I'm so happy to have Keone because he knows me so well. He builds me up and sometimes even keeps me safe from my own thoughts. It's also an ongoing battle to keep yourself modest, stand up for what you believe in, and not let the image-oriented environment get to you. Whether it's how you dress, how you move, how you speak, or how you think of/talk about others, I always feel tugs both ways, but know which way I want to follow. Perspective, focus on obedience to God, and being growth oriented vs. goal oriented is vital.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

Sharing what you love, through His love.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

KM: Jesus spoke about this, but as we sometimes think there is only tribulation in failure, success is just as likely to tear a man down. In failure, trust in God's plan, rejoice in tribulation. In success remain humble and be thankful for God's blessings.

MM: Trust. Just trust, trust, trust, in God and each other. Also, constantly checking your motives and helping keep each other accountable.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

KM: there are so many people I've come across that have mentored me in some way... family, friends, etc. Spiritually I'd have to say our pastor, Pastor Steve Brown, and of course my wife.

MM: So many mentors, but I have to agree. Our Pastor Steve Brown has taught us so much about the not only God's Word, but about how to read it, understand it, and apply it to our lives, from the big decisions, to the tiny details. He's been a huge help for Keone and I in developing our relationship with each other and also in helping us understand our roles as artists that want to be working for the kingdom.

(OFFICIAL COVER)

5.27.14

If you've been inspired or moved by KB's new EP "100" he wants to hear from you! Post a pic or vid of you at work, the gym, school, or wherever. Be as creative as you want! Post it on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and tag #EVERYDAY100 or mention "All I know is 100". KB will select one every week and post them on whoiskb.com and will also send those selected a autographed 100 cd! Below is an example of one that he has already recieved.

Don't miss all new KB merchandise, 25% off at the Reach Storefront until Friday!

You don't have to love what you do, to do it with love. Brother Lawrence author of practicing the presence of God said, "God regards not the greatness of our work but the love it is done with." So what is there to love? If what we do provides for people it is never an insignificant thing. The means by which God provides for His world is through the labor of His people. To do everything unto him is to work like our lives are not ours but His. He see's what we do and cares how we do it therefore we give our best. It's when we give "100" God is honored and this world impacted.

Tracklisting:

1. Give My All

2. 100 ft. Andy Mineo

3. Undefeated ft. Derek Minor

4. Kamikaze ft. Prisca

5. Doubts

6. Crazy

]]>Mon, 03 Mar 2014 14:42:00 -0600http://www.reachrecords.com-49676KB X 100 ft. Andy Mineo X Devohttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/KB-X-100-ft.-Andy-Mineo-X-Devo
Alongside of KB's new EP "100", he has teamed up with the TheOverflow.com and the YouVersion Bible App and written a free 21 day devotional. In it, KB unpacks what it means to give 100% in all that you do. You can participate by signing up for the plan here.

At the end of day two of the devo, there will be a free download available of the song "100 feat. Andy Mineo" off the new EP! Check it out below.

Bio

After winning two NCAA titles and more games than any player in college basketball history, Maya was the NCAA's Academic All-American of the Year and drafted #1 by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2011 WNBA Draft. As the 2011 WNBA Rookie of the Year and an All-Star Starter, less than five months after graduating from UCONN, she helped the franchise capture its first WNBA Championship. That Spring she added Euroleague Champion to her resumé. Only one year later, she added Olympic Gold as a part of Team USA at the London Olympics. Playing again with the Shanxi Flames, Maya is in the hunt for a second WCBA title. In 2013 Maya and the Minnesota Lynx captured their second WNBA Championship with Maya earning Finals MVP honors in the process. Armed with fire, polish and integrity, Maya is Generation Next; repping the Jordan Brand and chosen by Michael himself, she is one of the game's most amplified crossover stars.

Interview

Tell us a little bit about the path to where you are today.

I grew up in a single-parent home with a lot of extended family in Jefferson City, Missouri. To keep me busy while she cooked dinner, my mom put up a toy basketball hoop in the living room. I was a very active and energetic kid who played every sport I could get my hands on. By the age of eight I realized I loved basketball more than the other sports and that was the beginning of a nine year journey of competitive amateur ball. Seeking greater job opportunities, my mom moved our family to Metro-Atlanta when I was 12 and I then began to have access to some very competitive AAU teams. I worked, played and trained every summer and school year and ended up having a very successful high school career. The Lord was growing me and my mom also as we started to really seek the Lord in a deeper way as we were “on our own” away from the solid Christian family I grew up around. I played my college ball all the way in Connecticut where the Lord blessed me with some amazing coaches, teammates, friends and mentors through a Christian sports ministry called Athletes in Action. Through this support system I developed greatly as a leader, person and disciple of Christ. Upon graduating, I was drafted #1 to Minnesota and it has been a challenging, exciting, and prayerful process as I navigate the waters of early adulthood. It’s been amazing to see what the Lord has done already, and I know He still has greater things for the future.

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

A typical day for me depends on what part of the year we’re talking about. I live in 3 places all over the world a year. I am “in season” 8.5-9 months out of the year on two different continents which comprises on-court practices with world class athletes, weight training, traveling to different cities to compete in regular season and playoff games, interviews, community events, etc.

Did you have a specific moment when you realized that you wanted to play in the WNBA?

I’ve been a fan of the WNBA since it’s birth in 1997. The moment I saw Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, Tina Thompson, Lisa Leslie and all the other women of the WNBA, I knew I wanted to play as they did when I grew up. I was too excited when I was able to compete against Lisa Leslie in an exhibition game when I was a freshman at UConn and she was on the Olympic National Team. I played against Sheryl Swoops in her last season in the WNBA when I was a rookie. I was honored to compete against Tina Thompson in the last game of her WNBA career this past season, and I was coached by Cynthia Cooper when I was on the U20 USA Basketball team. Having those experiences were really dream come true moments where I was able to appreciate the role models they were for me growing up.

What risks or hard decisions have you had to make to live unashamed?

Growing up in a team sport culture there’s often the pressure to “fit in” with what everyone else is doing. In our broken world, there’s plenty of opportunity to say YOLO and live recklessly. Not going with the crowd and facing the reality of being alone for a while can be scary. But it’s in those times where the Lord met me and His presence and truth of His word filled my heart, knowing my obedience and loyalty to Him pleased Him. And through it all, He faithfully brought me friends to live unashamed with.

What does the unashamed life look like in your context?

As a public figure, I depend daily on God to fill me with humility. I believe the best way I can be a role model is by living an authentically, God-dependent lifestyle. Acknowledging God and his character in a relevant way is a priority and privilege everyday. How I treat others, not thinking too highly of myself to be a servant, and being aware of when the culture around me tries to place me on a throne that only God should sit.

How have you worked through success? Failure?

Experiencing the highs and lows and daily grind of sports is very different with Christ as your Lord vs anything else as lord in your life. Thankfully, through most of my career I’ve learned that my identity is in God as his daughter and not in who the world says I am. This doesn’t mean that losing doesn’t hurt and winning doesn’t feel great. But I know that in the end God is using it all for His glory and my good somehow. I’ve been blessed with some great coaches and mentors that have helped learn how to handle failure and success. When I miss the mark, whether on the court or in my relationships or personally, I know God has plenty of grace for me and I leave it at the cross and process through how to be better next time I face that challenge.

Have you had any mentors along the way?

My first home church in Atlanta had a huge impact on my personal walk. In college, I gained a great mentor and friends through Athletes in Action and I’ve played for some awesome coaches that taught me how to play the game with class and respect.

Do you have any favorite books?

I love reading, I’m always reading at least a couple books at a time. I am currently reading Mary Kassian’s Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild exploring the topic of godly womanhood in our crazy culture. The Boundaries series by Dr. Townsend and Cloud are great resources that have helped me gain wisdom in relationships. Crazy Love by Francis Chan, Radical by David Platt, Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson and With by Skye Jethani were all awesome books I’ve read over the last 4 years. Always keeping my nose in my ESV Study Bible. Tactics by Greg Koukl. Just did an awesome study in the book of Daniel with our WNBA chaplains and a teammate this last championship season.

What verses or passages in Scripture have sustained or encouraged you?

Col 3:23-24 is a part of Scripture that I’ve incorporated into my autograph. Every time I sign I get to leave that person with a piece of truth about my ultimate motivation. I’m confident God is using that somehow to bless others and me.

Rom 8:28 is a passage that I always go back to that reminds me of God’s goodness and is a real source of hope for me when things don’t make sense or if a painful situation arises. It also makes me feel grateful that no experience in my life or in other believer’s lives are wasted. God is sovereign and faithful.

Can you offer some encouragement to other unashamed believers out there?

Be diligent over your heart and remain grounded in the Word and in community with other unashamed believers. For me this means frequent prayer, diligent Bible study, and regularly engaging with other Christ followers so that my mind & heart stay convinced of His truth in a world that screams otherwise. Keep growing in grace and effectiveness at connecting with others who don’t know the Lord. And always remember, people are watching the way you live, and from one of my favorite pastor’s John Piper, “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.” When people see you living unashamed and satisfied in God, it will reap a kingdom harvest. Our labor is not in vain, amen!

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

We wanted to take the time to address some concerns that we have received on a variety of Reach Records artwork. Like many platforms in the hip-hop genre, we too have been accused of connections to shadow organizations, such as the Illuminati. While the purpose of this letter isn’t to walk through each piece of artwork, what we did feel is necessary is to affirm our mission to all of you.

We want to be upfront and transparent when we say that the artistic directions we take are not a result of some mysterious occult group or made with ill-intentions. Many times the choices we make for a particular album design have deeper redemptive, Biblical themes. Other times, they are purely aesthetic choices. The Bible helps us think through these issues as we see how God created the world we live in. Genesis 2:9 tells us, "And out of the ground the LORD God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food." Scripture tells us that God is intentional about making trees, not just for functional use, food, but also for aesthetic enjoyment. The drawing of an eye, a skull, etc. are all good things that God is ultimately responsible for designing and are not made evil because of their association to evil. The world’s perversion of these things does not overcome the good intent of God's craftsmanship. They work off of borrowed capital and should not have the final say on the things God has made.

There is no doubt many temptations wait for anyone seeking to influence culture and be a light to the world. Over the last 10 years, we have gone from doing concerts for 15 kids at boys and girls clubs to tens of thousands in sold out arenas. We have hustled boxes of CD’s out of the trunks of our cars and now have global distribution. At each moment along the journey, we know that the enemy is waiting to derail us from following Jesus and making our lives about Him.

Our hope and prayer is that you would understand how hard we labor over the steps we take. Knowing our capacity to sin and go astray has caused us to dig in deep. We wish you could see all the artists working through Scripture together before shows, struggling to make the night about the Lord and not about them. Or that you could see the many hours that have been spent dissecting the moves we make. What are our motives? Are we growing cynical? Have our hearts become cold to seeing God at work? These are all questions that roll around the office and in phone calls, texts and emails. Know that we are all connected to community and accountability in our lives through friends, churches, and even as a staff. Decisions are not made flippantly and we wrestle internally, pushing back on each other constantly. We seek wisdom, pray though decisions, and know that we must answer to God at the end of it all.

The mission of Reach has always been the Music of a Movement. A movement of the Unashamed around the world who are living out their faith in whatever place God has them, from janitors to preachers. We will not be perfect, we will make mistakes and change directions, but the ship isn’t floating aimlessly around the sea. Moves are made on purpose with prayer and honest discussion. Thank you for walking with us and caring enough to speak up. This year is our most intense ever and we can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store. Continue to live unashamedly of God's good news before a watching world.

Tedashii is back with his highly anticipated 4th studio album "Below Paradise" coming Spring 2014!

]]>Fri, 17 Jan 2014 14:09:00 -0600http://www.reachrecords.com-36431The 116 Lifehttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/The-116-Life
An unashamed believer is not defined by the t-shirt they wear, the job they work, or the country they live in. Instead, being unashamed means more about their character and the posture of their heart. Through an identity found in Christ, The 116 Life is marked by living out who God created them to be, using their gifts, talents, abilities, and passions all for the glory of God. No matter the occupation, these individuals are unashamed of admitting that they are a work in progress, they don’t have it all together, and they need God. They work hard to be excellent wherever God has them and unashamedly point to God while doing it.

Do you know someone that is living The 116 Life? Our hope is to gather and feature individuals that are living unashamedly for the glory of God. Fill out this questionnaire and we will choose one per month to highlight on our website. All submissions can be sent to info@reachrecords.com with The 116 Life in the subject line. If your nomination is chosen, we will contact them and conduct a short email interview about how they are living out The 116 Life.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

1.28.14

]]>Mon, 13 Jan 2014 09:28:00 -0600http://www.reachrecords.com-36161Tours Galorehttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Tours-Galore
In the next few months, Derek Minor, Andy Mineo and Lecrae will be hitting the road on tour. Don't miss the opportunity to catch a live show in a city near you!

Derek and Lecrae will be touring on Winter Jam (tickets sold at the door) and Andy will be touring on The Roadshow (buy tickets HERE). Check out the tour dates and cities below, as well as, Derek's new song "Winter Jam Anthem" featuring Natalie Villa. You can download the song for free HERE!

"We were made to pursue pleasure, but there is no pleasure under the sun that brings ultimate satisfaction."

Go to Lecrae.com to download Church Clothes Vol.2.

]]>Tue, 17 Dec 2013 13:13:00 -0600http://www.reachrecords.com-35767Reach Records X Gone For Good Salehttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Reach-Records-X-Gone-For-Good-Sale-1
In the next few weeks, Reach Records is having an accelerating sale on final stock items! ALL SALES ITEMS ARE THE LAST OF THEIR KIND AND WON'T BE REPRINTED! Each week, the discount gets bigger, but place your order ASAP because once they are gone, they are GONE FOR GOOD!

]]>Mon, 02 Dec 2013 13:15:00 -0600http://www.reachrecords.com-35510Reach Records X Black Friday Weekend Salehttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Reach-Records-X-Black-Friday-Weekend-Sale-1
The Reach Records Black Friday Sale is here! Get 25% off ALL REACH MERCHANDISE including Unashamed V Tour merch and our new Red Label line! Pick up something for yourself or a Christmas gift for friends and family at the Reach Storefront! The sale lasts from 11.29 to 12.2, so get it while you can!

*Offer excludes gift cards

]]>Tue, 26 Nov 2013 15:40:00 -0600http://www.reachrecords.com-35372Tedashii X New Radio Show X Serium http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Tedashii-X-New-Radio-Show-X-Serium-
We are excitied to announce that NGEN radio will be launching a new radio show SERIUM hosted by Tedashii! The show will air Saturday nights from 8-9 PM CST exclusively on NGEN radio beginning Saturday, November 23. The one-hour show will challenge the status quo, push listeners deeper in their faith and find God’s love in the hip-hop movement.

The first SERIUM show will include exclusive interviews with Tedashii and other artists at the tour, and of course, a mix hip-hop music.

About NGEN radio

Playing today’s hit music, NGEN radio is an on-air, online and digital music entertainment experience for people who want Christian music with an edge. The station is designed to capture the energy of the “NOW” generation and power a world of good through connection and community outreach. Listeners across the globe can tune in at www.NGENradio.com or with the free smart phone app. The station is also found on multiple signals in southeast Texas: 99.5 FM (Sugar Land), 89.5 FM (Bay City), 91.1 FM (Lake Jackson/Galveston), 99.7 FM (Brenham), 99.3 FM (College Station), 89.3 HD-2 (Houston), 92.5 HD-2 (Bryan/College Station).

]]>Wed, 30 Oct 2013 15:08:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-34695Bless The DJhttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Bless-The-DJ
As many of you may know, we have had the privilege of having DJ Official here at Reach for the past six years. He has served as DJ for Lecrae and as a producer for all of our artists. Three years ago, DJ Official was diagnoased with a rare form of cancer in his bone marrow. He has recently gone into remission, making it a great time for a bone marrow transplant. The procedure will leave him out of work for around 6 months. This is a great opportunity to bless him with the finances to provide for him and his family during this time. One opportunity to help is by purchasing the limited edition 'Bless The DJ' T-shirt. All of the proceedes will go directly to DJ Official.

Reach Records and Andy Mineo wanted to release a remix version of the entire 'Heroes For Sale' album, and we wanted to do a remix contest for a song. The end result was the idea to do an ALBUM REMIX CONTEST and allow you to remix any song that you want! The best remixes for each song will appear on the official Heroes For Sale remix album! Winners of each remixed song will win a place on the Official Heroes For Sale Remix Album!

1 Grand prize winner will win:

- Song on the official remix album

- a signed Heroes For Sale skate deck

- the entire Reach Records catalogue on CD

- the Reach Records vinyl collection!

Reach Records has provided the a capella's for each track along with the BPM. You can remix as many songs from the album as you would like.

]]>Mon, 16 Sep 2013 12:20:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-33854Tell The World You Are In Minorville And Win! http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Tell-The-World-You-Are-In-Minorville-And-Win-
With the release of Minorville, many of you are going to stores near you to purchase the album! Take a picture of your Minorville album when you purchase it in stores and post it to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Include #welcometominorville for a chance to win. Derek will post one picture daily and on Wednesday September 18th he will randomly select one winner!

To find a Walmart or Best Buy with "Minorville" near you, download this list.

To use the list: 1. Find your state (they are in alphabetical order) 2. Then find the city/suburb you recognize closest to you 3. After that, plug the store number into Google and it will bring up a link on the store site (i.e. search for “Best Buy store #505”) to get the location of the Best Buy in Newnan, GA.

Example Photo:

NOTE: Only in store purchases will be considered to win. (i.e. no digital purchases)

]]>Mon, 09 Sep 2013 16:02:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-33775Derek Minor X Minorville X In Stores Nowhttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Derek-Minor-X-Minorville-X-In-Stores-Now
After much anticipation, Derek Minor's "Minorville" is now available in stores! The album features Lecrae, Dee-1, Isaac Carree, and more. Get your copy of Minorville on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play or pick up a copy at Family Christian, Berean, LifeWay, Mardels, and select Walmart and Best Buys (see below). You can also purchase deluxe versions of "Minorville" and album merchandise at the Reach Records Storefront.

Tracklisting

1. Lost In Minorville

2. IGWT ft. Thi'sl

3. Gimmie

4. We Gone Make It ft. Canton Jones

5. Ready, Set, Go

6. Hot Air Balloon ft. Kiya Lacey

7. We Are (Champions) ft. SPZRKT

8. Love You Better ft. JC

9. Respect That ft. Deraj & RMG

10. Making Me More ft. Mel Washington

11. Sweet Dreams

12. Dear Mr. Christian, ft. Dee-1 & Lecrae

13. Heaven's Little Runaway

14. Homecoming ft. Isaac Carree

15. Deaf (Bonus)

Album Bio

Derek Minor had a vision for his new album. The Nashville rapper was inspired by the 1998 film Pleasantville to create a place with an idyllic exterior, but with layers of riveting subject matter underneath. His creation evolved into his dynamic new album, Minorville.

“Minorville is about this place where on the outside if you look at it, it looks really, really great,” Derek Minor says. “It looks like a cool place to go visit. But just like any city, when you get there, you soon realize that it has many different dynamics to it. You’ve got the cool area, the rich and famous area, the place in the hood, the place in the suburbs that’s moralistic and you’ve got the place where there aren’t any morals. Every part of the city has its own problems. I just want to give people a tour of my mind, my world, my city.” ...READ MORE

Walmart and Best Buy

To find a Walmart or Best Buy with "Minorville" near you, download this list.

To use the list: 1. Find your state (they are in alphabetical order) 2. Then find the city/suburb you recognize closest to you 3. After that, plug the store number into Google and it will bring up a link on the store site (i.e. search for “Best Buy store #505”) to get the location of the Best Buy in Newnan, GA.

]]>Mon, 09 Sep 2013 14:59:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-33774Derek Minor X Reach Records X Twitter Takeoverhttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Derek-Minor-X-Reach-Records-X-Twitter-Takeover
Today at 8pm EST, Derek Minor will takeover the Reach Records Twitter account for 30 minutes and answer any question you want! So get your questions ready! Direct all your questions to the twitter handle @reachrecords. ]]>Mon, 09 Sep 2013 10:44:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-33766Unashamed Lyric Video Contest Winners!http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Unashamed-Lyric-Video-Contest-Winners
All entries have been submitted and the winners have been selected! We had an overwhelming amount of incredible videos come in and this decision was in no way easy. We thank you all for the thought, creativity, and long hours that you put into making these videos. We decided the winners based on a vote from the Reach team but, across the board, we loved all of the submissions. And the winners are....

All orders of two or more Derek Minor products will recieve 20% off of their Minorville purchase!

]]>Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:46:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-32972KB X Live Stage It Show X 1st and 16thhttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/KB-X-Live-Stage-It-Show-X-1st-and-16th
Join KB this Friday the 16th @ 8pm for a live Stage It (lIve stream) performance! The finale of his 1st and 16th series, the performance will include the songs released during the series plus a special update from Jasmine Le'Shea. Get your tickets HEREand watch the performance from the comfort of your own home! Only 116 available so get yours today!

Everybody Goes Through It 9.10.13

CLICK HERE to Pre-Order "Minorville" today and receive an instant MP3 download of Derek's new song "Gimmie"! All orders of two or more Derek Minor products will recieve 20% off their purchase!

]]>Wed, 31 Jul 2013 09:00:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-32760Pre-Order Minorville Today!http://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/Pre-Order-Minorville-Today
Derek Minor's third studio album "Minorville" is now available for pre-order! Featuring Lecrae, Canton Jones, Isaac Carree, and more. Order today and recieve an instant MP3 download of Derek's new song "Gimmie"! All orders of two or more Derek Minor products will receive 20% off of their purchase! The album drops 9.10.13.

Derek Minor had a vision for his new album. The Nashville rapper was inspired by the 1998 film Pleasantville to create a place with an idyllic exterior, but with layers of riveting subject matter underneath. His creation evolved into his dynamic new album, Minorville.

“Minorville is about this place where on the outside if you look at it, it looks really, really great,” Derek Minor says. “It looks like a cool place to go visit. But just like any city, when you get there, you soon realize that it has many different dynamics to it. You’ve got the cool area, the rich and famous area, the place in the hood, the place in the suburbs that’s moralistic and you’ve got the place where there aren’t any morals. Every part of the city has its own problems. I just want to give people a tour of my mind, my world, my city.” ...READ MORE

We often recieve requests for lyrics to our songs, so we thought, lets put it in the hands of our biggest supporters, YOU!

The task is to create a dynamic, engaging, and impactful lyric video for one Reach Records hit from the list provided below. We want to know how YOU would represent these songs in a lyric video. Be creative and have fun. Create the content, submit it to us, and we will announce the winner for some great prizes!

Note: All submissions must be uploaded to your YouTube account and the link sent to info@reachrecords.com. The subject line should read: UNASHAMED LYRIC VIDEO CONTEST and the deadline to submit is August 15th.

What's in it for you?

There will be one 1st place prize and four runner-up prizes.

First Place:

Video featured on the Reach Records YouTube channel

$500 cash

$250 Reach Records store credit

Runner-Ups:

$250 Reach Records store credit

Contest Guidelines:

The video cannot exceed the length of the track.

Contestants are limited to submitting a video for ONE song out of the provided list.

The song should be the full track, please no mashups or remixes!

The video should contain only appropriate content. i.e. no material that is (or promotes activities which are) sexually explicit, obscene, offensive, or profane.

There is no required resolution or aspect ratio, but we recommend at least 1280 X 720.

Note: The grand prize winner, in exchange for their $500 prize, will grant Reach Records ownership of the video.

HGA is a group of brothers and sisters committed to an obsession. And that obsession is to be about what God has always been about, His Glory Alone.

What started as a bible study with 7 men in a two-bed room apartment quickly grew into a citywide mini-movement. As I reflect on the genesis of our community, I some times get emotional as it becomes more and more apparent to me that “God did it all!" We prayed that it rain in our city and God made it pour! Young, unchurched, multi-ethnic, urban men and women abandoning their lives to take on a new life in Jesus. They felt that their youth meant one thing, we have more years to serve Jesus. God taught them that. How else could this be explained? How did we go from thieves, drug dealers, goody two shoes, players, and atheist to missionaries to Iraq, Peru, China, Costa Rica, Brazil and most dearly Tampa? I remember a time where my brothers and sisters tried to walk 15 miles to another city and share the gospel with every person they came across on the journey. Why? For fun! (It actually didn't work. We ended up taking the bus the last 13 miles.) This is what we enjoyed. We loved Jesus, not perfectly but consistently.

This song is probably my favorite diamond thus far because I get to dedicate it to the community I love. As we've grown in to adulthood and become husbands, wives, college students, business owners, so on and so forth. A lot has changed but what matters most has not. His glory alone is still the cry of almost every person that started with us almost 6 years ago. They said we'd grow out of this but in reality we've only grown IN to this. “HGA until the casket drops.” Join us in this most happy pursuit declaring, "His glory among the nations!"Grace to you

]]>Thu, 20 Jun 2013 21:14:00 -0500http://www.reachrecords.com-31931KB X Heart Song X 1st & 16thhttp://www.reachrecords.com/news/show/KB-X-Heart-Song-X-1st-16th
Happy Fathers day! Greatful for all our fathers give and most importantly the gift THE Father gave us...a new heart!

Check out the "Heart Song" Video from KB's debut album Weight & Glory and the second installment from KB's 1st and 16th series. Heart Song shares Jasmine’s story as a heart transplant recipient, and more importantly shares that God has purpose even in our pain, a purpose which for children of God is ultimately & always good.

Since his last album, KB has been working hard in the lab on some new heat! This summer he's bringing you new music and more on the 1st and 16th of June and July! So if you're a fan of Weight & Glory you don't want to miss this!